Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

New Earphones Award Winners

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Laura Rossi joins host Jo Reed to talk through three recent Earphones Award winners, each offering a distinct listening experience. They begin with Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis, on which Davis also delivers exceptional narration, bringing authority and emotional precision to a fast-moving legal thriller. Then it’s Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi, where Adjoa Andoh delivers a commanding performance that makes the iconic queen feel regal, immediate, and fully human. They close with Trust No One by James Rollins and read by Simon Vance, who guides listeners across countries and centuries on a suspenseful hunt for a mysterious text said to hold the secret to immortality.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Judge Stone by James Patterson and Viola Davis, read by Viola Davis (Hachette Audio)

Cleopatra by Saara El-Arifi, read by Adjoa Andoh (Random House Audio)

Trust No One by James Rollins, read by Simon Vance (Harper Audio)

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Toni Morrison in Three Dimensions

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Contributor Kendra Winchester joins host Jo Reed to discuss three audiobooks that each spotlight a different side of Toni Morrison. In Language as Liberation, narrator Bahni Turpin guides listeners through Morrison’s own lectures, bringing an immediacy to her literary analysis of the American canon. Toni at Random, read with clarity and momentum by Deanna Anthony, highlights Morrison’s role in championing major Black writers as an editor at Random House. And January LaVoy’s reading of On Morrison carries Namwali Serpell’s close readings of the novels, making Morrison’s work feel newly alive. Three books, three authors, three narrations—each one sharpening a different view of Morrison’s lasting impact.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Language as Liberation: Reflections on the American Canon by Toni Morrison, read by Bahni Turpin (Random House Audio)

Toni at Random: An Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship by Dana A. Williams, read by Deanna Anthony (Harper Audio)

On Morrison by Namwali Serpell, read by January LaVoy (Random House Audio)

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Mothers, Memory, and the Search for Self

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed talks with contributor Leslie Fine about three audiobooks that circle around questions of identity, family, and belonging. In Kin by Tayari Jones, dual narrators Angel Pean and Ashley J. Hobbs give distinct voices to two lifelong friends shaped by maternal absence as well as the racial and class realities of the 1950s South. Boy From the North Country, written and read by Sam Sussman, blends autofiction and grief as a son returns home to his dying mother, while My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner, narrated by Joy Ozymanski, follows two teenagers navigating questions of heritage, class, and family. Three very different audiobooks, each asking—through story and performance—how we come to understand where we belong.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Kin by Tayari Jones, read by Angel Pean and Ashley J. Hobbs (Random House Audio)

Boy From the North Country written and read by Sam Sussman (Penguin Audio)

My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner, read by Joy Osmanski (Penguin Audio)

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Three Stories, Many Points of View

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed is joined by Michele Cobb to look at three audiobooks that use multiple narrators to tell stories from distinct perspectives. In Joan Silber’s Mercy, a cast of voices traces how an experience reverberates across lives and decades, with narration providing the emotional throughline. Rachel Hawkins’s The Storm leans into suspense and atmosphere, with strong performances sharpening a layered, true-crime-tinged mystery. And in Craig Thomas’s That’s Not How It Happened, four narrators bring clarity and texture to the story of a family and the uneasy overlap between private life and public storytelling. Three very different books, each shaped by shifting perspectives—and in each case, it’s the narration that makes the whole story cohere.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Mercy by Joan Silber, read by L.J. Ganser, Nan McNamara, Christina Moore, Alyssa Bresnahan, Helen Laser & Nick Walther (Recorded Books Inc.)

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins, read by Stephanie Németh-Parker, Alex Knox, Cathi Colas, Dan Bittner, Jane Oppenheimer, Patti Murin, and Petrea Burchard (Macmillan Audio)

That’s Not How It Happened by Craig Thomas, read by Marli Watson, Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor, and Kevin Iannucci (Harlequin Audio)

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Hockey, Heat, and Two Very Different Voices

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed is joined by Kirkus fiction editor Laurie Muchnick for a deep dive into Rachel Reid’s six-book Game Changers series. The basis for the HBO sensation Heated Rivalry, the books are a blend of pro hockey, queer romance, and unapologetic “spice.” The conversation zeroes in on two key audiobooks—Game Changer, read by Tor Thom, and The Long Game, read by Cooper North—highlighting how each narrator shapes character, tone, and emotional depth in very different ways. Along the way, Jo and Laurie consider what these romances promise (yes, a happily-ever-after), what they explore (from homophobia in sports to mental health), and how listening—especially to scenes of intimacy—changes the experience. A lively look at a very hot series—where performance shapes the story as much as the writing, and the chemistry comes through loud and clear.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Game Changer by Rachel Reid, read by Tor Thom (Tantor Media)

The Long Game by Rachel Reid, read by Cooper North (Harlequin Audio)

Other audiobooks in the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid:

Heated Rivalry and Tough Guy, read by Tor Thom (Tantor Media)

Common Goal and Role Model, read by Cooper North (Harlequin Audio)

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Lauren Groff: In Her Own Voice

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Lauren Groff’s narration of Brawler brings listeners directly into the cadence and emotional undercurrent of her prose. In this episode of Behind the Mic, she talks with host Jo Reed about building a collection as a series of evolving questions, from the opening story “The Wind” to the final piece “Annunciation,” which, as she puts it, is “shining a light outward” while gesturing back toward what comes before. The conversation also explores how reading her work aloud—both while writing and in the recording studio—sharpens rhythm, shifts meaning, and keeps every sentence in motion. In an interview interspersed with excerpts of the audiobook, Lauren reflects on voice, structure, and the intimacy of hearing a writer tell her own stories.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Brawler, written and read by Lauren Groff (Penguin Audio)

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Middle-Grade Books in Three Voices

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Kirkus young readers’ editor Laura Simeon suggests three middle-grade audiobooks that invite listening across generations, beginning with Anna James’s Alice With a Why, where Kristin Atherton’s graceful, finely tuned narration captures both the whimsy and emotional intelligence of this return to Wonderland. Jodi Meadows’ Confessions From the Group Chat offers a sharply observed look at middle-school dynamics, with Eevin Hartsough delivering a natural, conversational performance that makes Virginia’s missteps feel immediate and deeply human. And in Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter, British author and former Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho narrates his own fast-moving, imaginative adventure with energy and warmth, anchoring its time travel and mythmaking in a voice that feels personal and inviting. These are three engaging middle-grade stories, elevated by narrators who bring clarity, nuance, and a strong sense of voice to every moment.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Alice With a Why by Anna James, read by Kristin Atherton (Listening Library)

Confessions From the Group Chat by Jodi Meadows, read by Eevin Hartsough (Recorded Books)

Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter by Joseph Coelho, read by Joseph Coelho (Dreamscape)

Support for Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollinsFocus and HarperCollins ChristianPublishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Colleen Coble, Mark Harmon, Jennie Allen, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more.

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Writers at the Top of Their Game

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Contributor Alan Minskoff joins host Jo Reed to talk about three notable books—from George Saunders, Xochitl Gonzalez, and Lauren Groff—that offer rich and rewarding listening. They begin with George Saunders’s Vigil, an inventive, full-cast production featuring Judy Greer, Stephen Root, and McLeod Andrews, where a youthful ghost serves as a death doula to an unrepentant oil tycoon. The conversation then turns to Xochitl Gonzalez’s Last Night in Brooklyn, narrated compellingly by Elizabeth Rodriguez, a sharp, observant look at friendship, ambition, and gentrification in mid-2000s Brooklyn. They conclude with Lauren Groff’s Brawler, a collection of emotionally resonant stories read with empathy and thoughtful restraint by the author herself. Together, these audiobooks show how skillful narration—from full casts to author performances—can deepen the emotional and imaginative reach of contemporary fiction.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Vigil by George Saunders, read by Judy Greer, Stephen Root, MacLeod Andrews, Kimberly Farr, Mark Bramhall, Barrett Leddy, Eric Jason Martin, Karissa Vacker, Sunil Malhotra, Cassandra Campbell, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Aaron Goodson, Maggi-Meg Reed, George Saunders, and a Full Cast (Random House Audio)

LastNight in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez, read by Elizabeth Rodriguez (Macmillan Audio)

Brawler by Lauren Groff, read by the author (Penguin Audio)

Support for Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollinsFocus and HarperCollins ChristianPublishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Colleen Coble, Mark Harmon, Jennie Allen, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more.

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Three Narratives, No Easy Answers

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Stephen Cummings begin with Escape by Stephen Fischbach, an Earphones Award winner narrated by Julia Whelan, Imani Jade Powers, and Sean Patrick Hopkins; it’s a debut novel that digs into the machinations of reality TV and the costs of reinvention. Next they turn to Paper Cut by Rachel Taff, narrated by Helen Laser, a sharp exploration of true crime culture that follows a former cult member facing renewed scrutiny when a documentarian wants to revisit her past. Finally, they discuss the Earphones-winning Crown City by Naomi Hirahara, narrated by Brian Nishii, a richly observed social history threaded with a mystery as a newly arrived Japanese immigrant navigates 1903 Pasadena. Together, the three audiobooks—and their narrators—offer distinct portraits of pressure, survival, and the long reach of the past.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Escape! by Stephen Fishbach, read by Julia Whelan, Imani Jade Powers, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Stephen Fishbach (Penguin Audio)

Paper Cut by Rachel Taff, read by Helen Laser (Harper Audio)

Crown City by Naomi Hirahara, read by Brian Nishii (Recorded Books)

Support for Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins ChristianPublishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Colleen Coble, Mark Harmon, Jennie Allen, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more.

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Narration in Three Keys

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Alex Ritchie dive into three striking audiobooks, beginning with Half His Age, Jennette McCurdy’s unsettling and sharply observed debut novel, narrated by the author in a style that mirrors its protagonist’s fragile bravado. Jo and Alex then travel to 15th-century Italy with Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez, where Beatrice Grannò’s lyrical narration illuminates both the sensuality of the setting and the pulse of magic running through the novel’s political intrigue. Finally, they explore The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee, brought into vivid focus by Katie Leung’s clear, quietly magnetic delivery, which grounds the paranormal elements while sharpening the story’s emotional undercurrents. The conversation highlights how a narrator can deepen a book’s atmosphere, shape its emotional stakes, and transform the entire listening experience.

Audiobooks Discussed:

HalfHis Age, written and read by Jennette McCurdy (Random House Audio)

Graceless Heart by Isabel Ibañez, read by Beatrice Grannò (Macmillan Audio)

The Book of Blood and Roses by Annie Summerlee, read by Katie Leung (Penguin Audio)

Support for Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollinsFocus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Colleen Coble, Mark Harmon, Jennie Allen, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more.

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Thrillers With Teeth

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Leslie Fine kick off their discussion of rule-breaking new thrillers with Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, performed by Cia Court, in which a competitive housing market becomes the breeding ground for obsession. They turn to The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex, narrated by Edward Rowe and Meg Salter, a tense story of revenge that widens into an exploration of class, trauma, and the moments that define a life. Finally, they consider Girl Dinner by Olivie E. Blake, a sorority-set satire with sharp dialogue and darker implications, told through the alternating performances of Stephanie Nameth-Parker and Rita Amparita. Across all three titles, the conversation underscores how the right voices can amplify a thriller’s tension, humor, and emotional stakes.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, read by Cia Court (Macmillan Audio)

The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex, read by Edward Rowe and Meg Salter (Penguin Audio)

Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, read by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and Rita Amparita (Macmillan Audio)

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Native Voices

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Kendra Winchester open this episode with Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley, narrated by Isabella Star LaBlanc, a YA mystery that explores community and belonging through a performance rich in emotional nuance. The conversation turns to We Survive the Night, written and read by Julian Brave NoiseCat, a memoir that moves fluidly between family history, Indigenous storytelling, and themes of cultural survival. They close with The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson, performed by Shane Ghostkeeper, whose steady, grounded narration helps orient listeners inside a surreal, character-driven story of rivalry and unreliable memory. The three titles underscore how Native authors use voice, history, and perspective to shape memorable listening experiences.

Audiobooks Discussed: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc (Macmillan Audio). We Survived the Night, written and read by Julian Brave NoiseCat (Random House Audio). The Devil Is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson, read by Shane Ghostkeeper (HarperAudio)

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Earphones Award Spotlight

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and Laura Rossi dive into three Earphones Award–winning audiobooks: James Patterson’s Return of the Spider, Margaret Atwood’s Book of Lives, and Ryan Goldberg’s Bird City. They talk about Dion Graham and Fred Berman’s gripping dual performance in Patterson’s 34th Alex Cross thriller; Atwood’s reflective memoir in her own gravelly, unmistakable voice; and the charm of an unexpected New York City birding adventure to which Evan Sibley brings a naturalist’s clarity to the narration. Together, they explore how each audiobook offers a distinct listening experience—from high-stakes suspense to literary self-examination to close observation of the natural world.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Return of the Spider: An Alex Cross Thriller by James Patterson, read by Dion Graham and Fred Berman (Hachette Audio)

Book of Lives, written and read by Margaret Atwood (Random House Audio)

Bird City: Adventures in New York’s Urban Wilds by Ryan Goldberg, read by Evan Sibley (Hachette Audio)

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Three Literary Heavyweights: Smith, Banville, and Pynchon

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Alan Minskoff dive into three remarkable audiobooks: Zadie Smith’s Dead and Alive, John Banville’s Venetian Vespers, and Thomas Pynchon’s long-awaited Shadow Ticket. They explore Smith’s incisive essays, read by the author with clarity and authority; Venetian Vespers, with Luke Thompson navigating Banville’s long, sinuous sentences; and Pynchon’s noir caper, handled with virtuosic range by Edoardo Ballerini. It’s a conversation filled with sharp insights into writing, narration, and what makes these audiobooks such compelling listens.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Dead and Alive, written and read by Zadie Smith (Penguin Audio)

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon, read by Edoardo Ballerini (Penguin Audio)

Venetian Vespers by John Banville, read by Luke Thompson (Random House Audio)

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Backstories That Matter

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

This week, Michele Cobb joins host Jo Reed to dig into audiobooks built on backstory, beginning with Expert Witness, where Gabra Zackman delivers Anne Wolbert Burgess’ account of trauma, justice, and the evolution of expert testimony with clarity and restraint. Next, they turn to A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever, a joyful, detail-packed oral history of the 1984 film Spinal Tap—an ensemble cast production led by Rob Reiner, where seemingly spontaneous commentary makes the audiobook the definitive way to experience the story. The episode closes with We Did OK, Kid, a reflective memoir in which Kenneth Branagh’s elegant narration frames Anthony Hopkins’s vulnerable reflections on craft, ambition, and a life shaped by performance. Together these audiobooks show how lived experience—whether in the courtroom, on a film set, or across a lifetime in acting—gains depth and resonance when shaped by a narrator who knows when to be restrained, playful, or quietly vulnerable.

Audiobooks Discussed:

Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance by Ann Wolbert Burgess with Steven Matthew Constantine, read by Gabra Zackman

A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap, written and read by Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer

We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir by Sir Anthony Hopkins, read by Kenneth Branagh with the author

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Biography, Fiction, and Memoir

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Stephen Cummings joins host Jo Reed to talk about Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s immersive dual biography of Amelia Earhart and George Putnam, The Aviator and the Showman; Elliot Ackerman’s unlikely and darkly comic caper, Sheepdogs; and Mike Albo’s candid, audio-exclusive memoir, Hologram Boyfriends. Cummings reflects on what surprised him about each audiobook and why these very different works held his attention to the end. Altogether, the conversation highlights how form, tone, and performance shape the listening experience.

Audiobooks Discussed:

The Aviator and the Showman by Laurie Gwen Shapiro, read by Stefanie Powers (Penguin Audio)

Sheepdogs by Elliot Ackerman, read by Chris Andrew Ciulla

(Random House Audio)

Hologram Boyfriends, written and read by Mike Albo

(Macmillan Audio)

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From Short Stories to Family Sagas

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0000

Contributor Alex Richey joins Behind the Mic host Jo Reed to talk about three fantastical audiobooks and how their different forms shape the listening experience. The conversation moves from Brandon Sanderson’s story collection Tailored Realities to two intergenerational stories centered on daughters—Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite and As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel—where voice and perspective carry particular emotional weight. As Alex observes, these audiobooks demonstrate how narration can enhance both broad narrative structures and more focused, character-driven works.

Books Discussed:

Tailored Realities by Brandon Sanderson, read by Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Michael Kramer, Ray Porter, Andre Santana, Avi Roque, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Imani Jade Powers, MacLeod Andrews, Shahjehan Khan, and Stephanie Nemeth Parker

Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, read by Weruche Opia, Nnei Opia Clark, and Diana Yekinni

As Many Souls as Stars, written by Natasha Siegel, read by Kristin Atherton

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Robin Whitten: Transitions and Continuity

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine is now part of Kirkus Reviews, and Behind the Mic marks the moment with a conversation with the magazine’s founder and longtime editor Robin Whitten. Robin reflects on a life spent listening, how audiobooks and audiobook reviewing has evolved, and her excitement that the work begun by AudioFile will continue and flourish at KirkusReviews.
It’s a thoughtful, forward-looking conversation about continuity, change, and the enduring joy of listening.

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Interview with Karen Murray: Best Children & Family Audiobooks 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Karen Murray to talk about HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, one of our picks for the Best Children and Family Audiobooks of 2025. Karen shares how she dove into this musical exploration of Black music in America, which “felt like home to her.” The experience begins with a poem as the listener is guided through the talking drums of Africa, to the blues, jazz, funk, and soul, and eventually hip-hop. Jo and Karen share why this listen is perfect for families, even down to the final, fascinating glossary.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook

Published by Hachette Audio.

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Children & Family Listening are:

AND SHE WAS LOVED by Andrea Davis Pinkney, read by Andrea Davis Pinkney
BAD BADGER by Maryrose Wood, read by Chris Devon
MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT by Christy Mandin, read by Elizabeth Knowelden
THE POISONED KING by Katherine Rundell, read by Sam West
HOW SWEET THE SOUND by Kwame Alexander, read by Karen Murray
WHALE EYES by James Robinson, read by James Robinson

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website

Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Katee Robert. Discover your next great listen at dreamscapepublishing.com.

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Interview with Greta Jung: Best Young Adult Audiobooks 2025

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Greta Jung joins host Jo Reed to discuss narrating ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, one of AudioFile’s picks for Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2025. Greta discusses her connection to the Korean language and her own childhood, both of which helped her deliver an impactful, emotional performance. Jo and Greta also talk about the importance of stories that are especially resonant for children and teen listeners.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Young Adult Audiobooks are:

AMONG GHOSTS by Rachel Hartman, read by Will Watt
ONE STEP FORWARD by Marcie Flinchum Atkins, read by Chanté McCormick
SISTERS IN THE WIND by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc
(S)KIN by Ibi Zoboi, read by Bahni Turpin, Robin Miles
UNDER THE SAME STARS by Libba Bray, read by January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Major Curda
ALL THE TOMORROWS AFTER by Joanne Yi, read by Greta Jung

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website

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Interview with Christine Lakin: Best Romance Audiobooks 2025

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator and actor Christine Lakin joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss one of this year’s Best Romance Audiobooks, SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter. Christine goes behind the scenes with Michele to reveal how she established the tone of certain characters and the unique challenges of being a romance narrator when they’re often recording alone in a booth. Together they dive into new trends in current romance audiobooks and discuss how natural it felt for Christine to perform Abby Jimenez’s words.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook

Published by Hachette Audio.

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Romance Audiobooks are:

GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan
MISDIRECTED by Lucy Parker, read by Nicola Coughlan, Gwilym Lee
PIONEER SUMMER by Elena Malisova and Kateryna Sylvanova, [Translated from Russian by Anne O. Fisher] Read by Edoardo Ballerini
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE by Jane Austen, [Adapt.] Lulu Raczka, read by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, Toheeb Jimoh, Patricia Allison, Bertie Carvel, Leah Harvey, David Gyasi, Rosalind Eleazar
SAY YOU'LL REMEMBER ME by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin, Matt Lanter
THE WOLF KING by Lauren Palphreyman, read by Zara Hampton-Brown and Shane East

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website

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Interview with Maggi Meg-Reed: Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks 2025

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed is joined by narrator Maggi-Meg Reed to chat about her performance in one of AudioFile’s selections for Best Multi-Voice audiobooks of 2025: THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed with an ensemble. Maggi-Meg talks about how she narrated this nuanced story about a 73-year old woman who is slowly going blind, while also dealing with a surprising DNA test. Together they discuss how a performer rides the line between a written conversation and a spoken one and the unique challenges that come with multi-voice narrations.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook

Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks are:

THE BIG FIX by John Mankiewicz, Jamie Napoli, Daniel Pyne, Katie Pyne, and Aaron Lipstadt, performed by Jon Hamm, Ana de la Reguera, Erin Moriarity, Omar Epps, Alia Shawkat, et al.
THE CORRESPONDENT by Virginia Evans, read by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler, Jim Seybert, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, et al.
THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY by Garrett M. Graff, performed by Edoardo Ballerini, Adam Grupper, Brian Nishii, Kevin R. Free, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Mirai, Rob Shapiro, Saskia Maarleveld, Vikas Adam, et al.
LES NORMAUX by Janine Janssen and S. Al Sabado, performed by Janine Janssen, S. Al Sabado, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Jean Brassard, Xavier Casals, Alexander Cendese, Kyla Garcia, Ramón de Ocampo, Abby Manning, Christopher Salazar, André Santana, Devon Sorvari, Jeanne Syquia
OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove read by, Chris Devon, Emana Rachelle, Charlie Albers, Eve Passeltiner, Zura Johnson, Cary Hite, Gail Shalan
SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds, performed by Nile Bullock, Mekhi Hewling, Jade Williams, Brandon Miles, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Amir Royale, et al.

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website

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Interview with Eunice Wong: Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks 2025

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb sits down with award-winning narrator Eunice Wong to discuss one of our picks for the Best Science Fiction & Fantasy audiobooks of 2025: DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong. This cinematic collision of past and future comes together in a dystopian fantasy which is also part historical fiction and sci-fi. We’ll hear about how Wong approached narrating three different timelines, and how a very special jade teacup connects them all.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook

Published by Dreamscape.

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks are:

DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp, Chris Djuma
DOWN IN THE SEA OF ANGELS by Khan Wong, read by Eunice Wong
THE HYMN TO DIONYSUS by Natasha Pulley, read by Sid Sagar
KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang, read by Morag Sims, Will Watt
THE RAVEN SCHOLAR by Antonia Hodgson, read by Daphne Kouma
THE WINTER GODDESS by Megan Barnard, read by Aoife McMahon, Aidan Kelly

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website

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Interview with Mia Hutchinson-Shaw: Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks 2025

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Mia Hutchinson-Shaw joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss narrating Annie Mare and Ruthie Knox’s cozy mystery HOMEMAKER. We follow along with protagonist Prairie Hawk Nightingale, a homemaker extraordinaire, on her quest to solve the disappearance of her former friend. Hutchinson-Shaw shares what it’s like to narrate this delightful cast of characters, why she likes cozy mysteries, and how she got into acting and narration.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook: Published by Brilliance Audio

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks are:

THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia, read by Andrew Eiden, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, Tim Campbell
HOMEMAKER by Annie Mare, Ruthie Knox, read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw
NEVER FLINCH by Stephen King, read by Jessie Mueller, Stephen King
SOUTH OF NOWHERE by Jeffery Deaver, read by Kaleo Griffith
THE SUMMER GUESTS by Tess Gerritsen, read by Hillary Huber
A TRUE VERDICT by Robert Rotstein, read by Sean Pratt, Phil Thron, Kelli Tager, Sophie Amoss, Natalie Naudus, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Hillary Huber, Mark Bramhall, Robin Miles, Alex Boyles, Roxanne Hernandez, Eunice Wong, Deanna Anthony, Graham Halstead

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website.

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Who’s Listening? Author Sara DiVello

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In this bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed speaks with Sara DiVello, true crime writer, founder and host of interview series Mystery and Thriller Mavens, and co-chair of the Nantucket Book Festival. DiVello’s latest book, narrated by Jordan Cobb, is BROADWAY BUTTERFLY, which is based on one of the most notorious unsolved murders of the roaring twenties. Together they talk about growing up on Nancy Drew, coming from a family of passionate readers, and the captivating pull of reading and writing true crime.

Photo by Lisa Schaffer Photography

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Interview with Grover Gardner: Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks 2025

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Award-winning narrator Grover Gardner joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners about narrating one of our picks for Best Nonfiction & Culture audiobooks of 2025: Rick Atkinson’s Revolutionary War epic, THE FATE OF THE DAY: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780.

Gardner shares how he kept the energy up in this sprawling account of the second installment of Atkinson’s Revolutionary War trilogy, which takes place just after the Battle of Trenton. Together they discuss various challenges, especially when narrating Atkinson's unique use of lists, and how impressive it was to understand the enormous, and still timely task, of winning our independence.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook: Published by Random House Audio

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks are:

DARK RENAISSANCE by Stephen Greenblatt, read by Edoardo Ballerini
THE FATE OF THE DAY by Rick Atkinson, read by Grover Gardner and the author
FOOD FOR THOUGHT written and read by Alton Brown
MOTHER EMANUEL by Kevin Sack, read by William DeMeritt
ORIGINAL SINS by Eve L. Ewing, read by Robin Miles, Eve L. Ewing
WE THE PEOPLE written and read by Jill Lepore

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website.

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Interview with Ron Butler: Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks 2025

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Award-winning narrator Ron Butler joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners about narrating Nicholas Boggs’ stunning audiobook, BALDWIN, one of our picks for Best Biography & Memoir audiobooks of 2025. This comprehensive biography of James Baldwin—the first in over 30 years—is told through the lens of the great loves of his life, something that has never been explored before. Butler dives into what kind of research went into preparing for the narration, and what kind of tone and “music” he invited into performing the text.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook: Published by Macmillan Audio

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks are:

AWAKE written and read by Jen Hatmaker
BALDWIN by Nicholas Boggs, read by Ron Butler
BOAT BABY written and read by Vicky Nguyen
MARK TWAIN by Ron Chernow, read by Jason Culp
MEMORIAL DAYS written and read by Geraldine Brooks
THE SPINACH KING by John Seabrook, read by Dion Graham

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website .

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Interview with Shaun Taylor-Corbett: Best Fiction Audiobooks 2025

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Award-winning narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett joins host Jo Reed to tell listeners about narrating Jon Hickey’s debut audiobook, BIG CHIEF, one of our picks for Best Fiction of 2025. It’s a story about a political fixer, Mitch Caddo, who must navigate both political and personal dramas, while confronting his identity as a mixed-race Anishinaabe man. Taylor-Corbett shares how he found Caddo’s voice in this audiobook, which is a unique look into tribal politics, identity, and how power is both given and taken.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

AudioFile’s 2025 Best Fiction Audiobooks are:

AMITY by Nathan Harris, read by André Santana, Angel Pean
THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell, read by Elena Rey, Sophie Amoss, Mark Bramhall, Shayna Small, Jon Orsini, Natasha Soudek, Karen Russell, James Riding
BIG CHIEF by Jon Hickey, Shaun Taylor-Corbett
BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan, read by Michael Crouch
JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine, read by Angel Pean
WHAT WE CAN KNOW by Ian McEwan, read by David Rintoul, Rachel Bavidge

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website:

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AudioFile’s 2025 Best Audiobooks!

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to discuss AudioFile’s 2025 Best Audiobooks. Listen to their conversation to discover how AudioFile’s editors choose the year’s best audiobooks, which titles Robin is particularly excited about, and to hear all the details on our upcoming interviews with narrators of some of this year’s honored titles.

Explore the full list of 2025 Best Audiobooks on our website.

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Earphones Award Round Up

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi highlight three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks. AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Laura and Jo discuss: THE SLIP a story about a missing teenage boy, by Lucas Schaefer, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Renata Friedman; WE THE PEOPLE: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore, read by the author; and LIVING IS DYING: How to Prepare for Death, Dying, and Beyond, by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, read by Michael Imperioli. They share why these audiobooks won Earphones, and why they are well worth your listening time.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

THE SLIP: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

WE THE PEOPLE: Published by Recorded Books

LIVING IS DYING: Published by Shambhala Publications

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus,, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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Three Multifacted and Moving Memoirs

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb to discuss three powerful memoirs, narrated by their authors. Booker Prize–winning writer Arundhati Roy returns with a complex look at her relationship with her challenging and ‘visionary,’ mother in MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME; an unflinching, polarizing memoir about Elizabeth Gilbert’s sex and love addiction in ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER; and VAGABOND, a restrained dive into the long, varied career of inimitable actor Tim Curry.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

MOTHER MARY COMES TO ME: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

ALL THE WAY TO THE RIVER: Published by Penguin Audio

VAGABOND: Published by Hachette Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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Behind the Mic talks SHARP FORCE with January LaVoy

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy speaks to AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb about the most recent entry in Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta Series, SHARP FORCE. January is a nine-time Audie Award winner, and she shares what it's like to revisit the voice of enduring character Kay Scarpetta, a forensic pathologist who now must deal with a new nightmare where tech, AI, and murder converge. January discusses how she keeps character voices consistent from book to book, and how she balances narrating technical passages with keeping the pace thrilling for listeners.

This episode is brought to you by Hachette Audio.

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Phillip Pullman’s World

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:08:00 -0000

Today host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile’s founder and editor, Robin Whitten, to discuss Phillip Pullman’s world and THE ROSE FIELD, read by Michael Sheen, the much anticipated conclusion of the extraordinary epic fantasy. It began in 1999 with THE GOLDEN COMPASS and with the story of Lyra Silvertongue, in an all-time-favorite full-cast performance. Lyra’s story plays out over six audiobooks—a double trilogy, HIS DARK MATERIALS and THE BOOK OF DUST. We could revel in Pullman’s alternate universe for hours, but for this episode, Jo and Robin compare the different narrations and storytelling styles of the audiobooks that bring Pullman’s imagination to us.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

THE ROSE FIELD: Published by Listening Library

THE GOLDEN COMPASS: Published by Listening Library

THE BOOK OF DUST: Published by Listening Library

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Behind the Mic talks with author Brian Andrews

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Author Brian Andrews, who is, along with Jeffrey Wilson, half of the author duo Andrews & Wilson, speaks with AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb about THE ADVERSARY, the ninth book in the Tier One thriller series, narrated by Ray Porter. In their conversation, Andrews shares his longtime love of audiobooks and talks about his persistence in getting Ray Porter involved as the narrator for the Tier One series.

This episode is brought to you by Blackstone Publishing.

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Stories that Spin and Satirize

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff this week to dig into three new audiobooks that delight and satirize, often using humor to shed light on social issues. Three unlikely characters bond in an anger management class in SNAP, a comedic novel by Susin Nielsen and read by Carol Schneider; a failed poet with a snarky alter-ego struggles with an autoimmune disease and a polyamorous wife in the debut novel OLD SCHOOL INDIAN by Aaron John Curtis, read by Jason Grasl; and a teenage flag-twirler switches sides in the satirical Civil War-era novel HOW TO DODGE A CANNONBALL by Dennard Dayle, read by William DeMeritt.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

SNAP: Published by Harper Audio

OLD SCHOOL INDIAN: Published by Hillman Grad Books

HOW TO DODGE A CANNONBALL: Published by Macmillan Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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Embracing the dark in MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb speaks with author and illustrator Christy Mandin and narrator Elizabeth Knowelden about the new audiobook MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT. This enchanting story for children, where night-blooming plants come alive, reassures the residents of Garden Glen—and the listener—that the dark is nothing to be afraid of, as long as you're brave enough to turn off the lights and see what wonders are waiting.

Read our review of MILLIE FLEUR SAVES THE NIGHT: Published by Scholastic Audiobooks

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

This episode is brought to you by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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What Haunts Us: 3 Halloween Tales

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week on Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed welcomes our resident horror expert, Alex Richey. Together they discuss three gripping audiobooks that are more about the spooky atmosphere than jump-scares. A catastrophic event kicks off a series of bizarre deaths in LUCKY DAY by Chuck Tingle, read by Mara Wilson; a woman falls into a mirrored world in HEMLOCK & SILVER, T. Kingfisher’s unique take on Snow White, read by Jennifer Pickens; and a boy who can see and speak with ghosts hides in a haunted abbey in AMONG GHOSTS by Rachel Hartman, read by Will Watt.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

LUCKY DAY: Published by Macmillan Audio

HEMLOCK & SILVER: Published by Macmillan Audio

AMONG GHOSTS: Published by Listening Library

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, the publisher of The Intruder by bestselling author Freida McFadden. The Intruder is a deadly tale of survival that explores how far one girl will go to save herself. — on-sale 10/7.

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Who’s Listening? Actor Courtney B. Vance

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In this bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed speaks with actor Courtney B. Vance. His shelves are lined with awards—two Emmys, a Tony, a Critics Choice Award, and several NAACP Image Awards. Vance is also a dedicated audiobook listener and occasional narrator, nominated for a Grammy for his performance of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s and Avis Lang’s ACCESSORY TO WAR. Vance’s latest project is a monumental one—narrating historian David Levering Lewis’s two-volume Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of W.E.B. Du Bois, available as an audiobook for the first time. But it’s a recording that might never have happened if Courtney B. Vance hadn’t picked up the phone and called the author.

Read our review of W.E.B. DU BOIS 1868-1919: Biography of a Race:

Courtney B. Vance photo by Matthew Jordan Smith

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Stories of Resilient Writers

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester to Behind the Mic this week to discuss one memoir and two biographies which center three different writing lives: A deaf, mixed-race writer finding his voice in THE QUIET EAR by Raymond Antrobus, read by the author; a cultural biography of Octavia Butler, the groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy writer in POSITIVE OBSESSION by Susana M. Morris, read by Karen Murray; and an expansive biography of James Baldwin told through the lens of friendship and love in BALDWIN by Nicholas Boggs, read by Ron Butler.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

THE QUIET EAR: Published by Random House Audio

POSITIVE OBSESSION: Published by Harper Audio

BALDWIN: Published by Macmillan Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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MOCKINGBIRD COURT, Book 6 in the Shady Hollow Mystery series

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb is joined by Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell to chat about the sixth and newest audiobook in the Shady Hollow Mystery series, MOCKINGBIRD COURT. Vulpine reporter Vera Vixen finds herself the prime suspect in what looks to be a murder. Cassandra Campbell is the voice behind all six of the Shady Hollow mysteries, and AudioFile listeners may also recognize her from her Earphones Award-winning narrations of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING and THE SCRIBE OF SIENA. Cassandra was named an AudioFile Golden Voice in 2021.

Read our reviews of some of Cassandra Campbell’s work:

MOCKINGBIRD COURT: Published by Random House Audio

SHADY HOLLOW : Published by Random House Audio

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING: Published by Penguin Audio

THE SCRIBE OF SIENA: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

This episode is brought to you by Random House Audio

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Dark Academia

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile contributor Stephen Cummings is on Behind the Mic this week with host Jo Reed. This week’s theme is all about dark academia—suspenseful and often fantastical audiobooks that take place in a campus or school setting. Two graduate students descend into hell to get a recommendation from their professor in KATABASIS by R.F. Kuang, read by Morag Sims and Will Watt; affairs are revealed in a creative writing thesis in SEDUCTION THEORY by Emily Adrian, read by Jennifer Pickens; and a teacher at a magical school needs help wrangling demons in THE INCANDESCENT by Emily Tesh, read by Zara Ramm.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

KATABASIS: Published by Harper Audio

SEDUCTION THEORY: Published by Hachette Audio

THE INCANDESCENT: Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Behind the Mic talks Classic Crime Novels with David Timson

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

British narrator David Timson has recorded numerous audiobooks for Naxos AudioBooks, including the complete Sherlock Holmes stories, five Charles Dickens novels, and a complete unabridged reading of Edward Gibbon’s DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. During his time working with Naxos as actor, director, and writer, David has also directed five of the successful audio series of Shakespeare’s plays. In 2002 he won the Audiobook of the Year Award for his reading of A STUDY IN SCARLET. David Timson sits down with AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb to discuss narrating classic crime novels and Golden Age mysteries, including works by Anthony Berkeley (aka Francis Iles) such as MALICE AFORETHOUGHT, THE PICCADILLY MURDER, and TRIAL AND ERROR, and giving voice to the extensive Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin canons.

Read our reviews of some of David Timson’s work:

DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: Published by Naxos Audiobooks

MALICE AFORETHOUGHT: Published by Naxos Audiobooks

THE PICCADILLY MURDER: Published by Naxos Audiobooks

TRIAL AND ERROR: Published by Naxos Audiobooks

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/

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Captivating and Cruel: True Crime Spotlight

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile publisher Michele Cobb is on Behind the Mic this week with host Jo Reed. Together they dig into three True Crime audiobooks that tell haunting stories and that take place in three distinct institutions. THE FORT BRAGG CARTEL by Seth Harp, read by Dan John Miller, is a frightening tale of murders and drug trafficking at a military base; THE SLEEP ROOM by Jon Stock, read by Richard Armitage, Celia Imrie, and Antonia Beamish, is a revelation of the disturbing practices of Dr. William Sargant on his mostly female patients; and THE IDAHO FOUR by James Patterson and Vicky Ward, read by Elisabeth Rodgers, is an investigation of the infamous murders of four university students in 2022.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

THE FORT BRAGG CARTEL: Published by Penguin Audio

THE SLEEP ROOM: Published by Tantor Media

THE IDAHO FOUR: Published by Hachette Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/

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Three Engaging and Complex Mysteries

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Editor and Founder Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed this week to discuss three gripping new mystery audiobooks that share a dark wit and anti-establishment protagonists. Martin Cruz Smith’s HOTEL UKRAINE, narrated by Jeremy Bobb, is a compact suspense about Detective Arkady Renko and the early days of the invasion of Ukraine; CLOWN TOWN by Mick Herron is the ninth installment of the popular Slough House series, read by Golden Voice Gerard Doyle; and THE HALLMARKED MAN by Robert Galbraith is a lengthy but memorable 8th mystery in the Comoran Strike series, read by Robert Glenister.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

HOTEL UKRAINE: Published by Hachette Audio

CLOWN TOWN: Published by Recorded Books

THE HALLMARKED MAN: Published by Hachette Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Blackstone Publishing: an independent, award-winning publisher of bestselling books and audiobooks. Find your next great listen at BlackstonePublishing.com.

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Earphones Award Roundup

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi discuss three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks that delve deeply into the human experience. Laura and Jo discuss the controversial, posthumously published NOTES TO JOHN by Joan Didion, read by Julianne Moore; CRY FOR ME, ARGENTINA: My Life As a Failed Child Star by comedian Tamara Yajia, read by Tamara Yajia; and the highly anticipated memoir by Jen Hatmaker, AWAKE, read by the author. Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

NOTES TO JOHN: Published by Random House Audio

CRY FOR ME, ARGENTINA: Published by Bloomsbury Publishing

AWAKE: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Secrets From The Past Can Hide Anywhere

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week, host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Leslie Fine review three new audiobooks that harbor family secrets and feature excellent character development. A woman grapples with her roles as wife, mother, and more in SAME AS IT EVER WAS by Claire Lombardo, read by Emily Rankin; a father and daughter are living off the grid in WHAT KIND OF PARADISE by Janelle Brown, read by Peter Ganim and Helen Laser; and a quiet English farm is disturbed by a murder mystery in BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall, read by Hattie Morahan.

SAME AS IT EVER WAS: Published by Random House Audio

WHAT KIND OF PARADISE: Published by Random House Audio

BROKEN COUNTRY: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Family Tumult and Turmoil

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week, host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff review three new audiobooks, both fiction and nonfiction, that revolve around diverse types of turbulence a family might encounter: The tragic American family saga of THE SPINACH KING by John Seabrook, read by Dion Graham; ON ISABELLA STREET, a historical novel set in a pre- and post-Vietnam War Toronto, by Genevieve Graham, read by Liz Leafloor and Erin Moon; and SO FAR GONE by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, a satirical novel on the rise of religious fundamentalist militias.

THE SPINACH KING: Published by HighBridge Audio

ON ISABELLA STREET: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

SO FAR GONE: Published by Harper Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Experimental Genre-blending that Works

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week, host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester to chat about three new sci-fi/fantasy audiobook gems: MODERATION, written and read by Elaine Castillo, a cautionary tale that dives into tech, class, and immigration; SUNBIRTH by An Yu, a character-driven story in which slices of the sun start disappearing, read by Mei Mei Macleod; and a historical horror-romance with elements of fantasy, THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ by Isabel Cañas, read by Carolina Hoyos and Anthony Rey Perez.

MODERATION: Published by Penguin Audio

SUNBIRTH: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ: Published by Penguin Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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Expertly Woven Fantasy & Sci-Fi Tales Across Time

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This week, host Jo Reed welcomes AudioFile contributor Alex Richey. Together, they’ll chat all about vampires, monsters, and witches in three sci-fi/fantasy/horror audiobooks: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL, a multiple-POV sapphic vampire story by V.E. Schwab, read by Julia Whelan, Katie Leung, and Marisa Calin; the “bonkers” genre-bending OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES by Barbara Truelove, read by Chris Devon, Emana Rachelle, Charlie Albers, Eve Passeltiner, Zura Johnson, Cary Hite, and Gail Shalan; and a multi-generational horror story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, THE BEWITCHING, read by Gisela Chípe.

BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL: Published by Macmillan Audio

OF MONSTERS AND MAINFRAMES: Published by Dreamscape

THE BEWITCHING: Published by Random House Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website
Today’s episode is brought to you by Hachette Audio and the audiobook Kiss Her Goodbye, the newest Lisa Gardner thriller, read by Hillary Huber.

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Three Icons of Culture: Lives Shaped by New York City

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings discuss three audiobook biographies in which the New York City of the 1970s and ’80s plays a key role. This week, they’ll highlight LORNE by Susan Morrison, read by Kristen DiMercurio and the author, about the Saturday Night Live creator; YOKO by David Sheff, read by Max Meyers, an intimate look at the avant-garde artist; and I REGRET ALMOST EVERYTHING by Keith McNally and read by Richard E. Grant, a highly enjoyable listen about the legendary restaurateur.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

LORNE by Susan Morrison, read by Kristen DiMercurio, Susan Morrison Published by Random House Audio

YOKO by David Sheff, read by Max Meyers

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

I REGRET ALMOST EVERYTHING by Keith McNally, read by Richard E. Grant

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Today’s episode is brought to you by Hachette Audio and the audiobook Kiss Her Goodbye, the newest Lisa Gardner thriller, read by Hillary Huber.

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Multi-Voice Journeys Update Stories You Thought You Knew

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss three audiobooks that have two or more narrators in the cast. Together they’ll speak about: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s queer love story set in the 1980s space race, ATMOSPHERE read by Julia Whelan and Kristen DiMercurio. A thriller complete with kidnappings and a mysterious house in THE OTHER PEOPLE by C.B. Everett, read by Heather Long and Kaffe Keating. Finally, FAR AND AWAY a Dallas-to-Berlin house-swap family drama written by Amy Poeppel, and read by Patti Murin, Lisa Flanagan, Jennifer Jill Araya, Kevin R. Free, and Pete Simonelli.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

ATMOSPHERE: Published by Random House

THE OTHER PEOPLE: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

FAR AND AWAY: Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at Audiofile Magazine

Today’s episode is brought to you by Hachette Audio and the audiobook Kiss Her Goodbye, the newest Lisa Gardner thriller, read by Hillary Huber.

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Who’s Listening? Author Adriana Trigiani

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Adriana Trigiani is an award-winning playwright, television writer, producer, filmmaker, podcaster, and the bestselling author of some twenty books both fiction and nonfiction, including THE SHOEMAKER’S WIFE, the BIG STONE GAP series, and LUCIA, LUCIA. Adriana’s latest book is THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO, narrated by Academy Award-winner Mira Sorvino. As with all of her titles, THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO is filled with complex characters with complicated and deeply felt family relationships. In this episode, host Jo Reed and Adriana Trigiani talk about her work, swoon-worthy audiobooks, and Mira Sorvino’s great talent.

Read our review of THE VIEW FROM LAKE COMO, published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio, publisher of the audiobook edition of KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner, read by Hillary Huber.

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Earphones Award Roundup

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi discuss three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks. Laura and Jo highlight WHALE EYES: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen written and read by documentarian James Robinson; WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE, Mary Alice Monroe’s novel set in the South Carolina Low Country and performed by Cassandra Campbell and Jenna Lamia along with the author; and NEVER FLINCH, Stephen King’s crime thriller, read by Jessie Mueller.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

WHALE EYES Published by Listening Library

WHERE THE RIVERS MERGE Published by Harper Audio

NEVER FLINCH Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio, publisher of the audiobook edition of KISS HER GOODBYE by Lisa Gardner, read by Hillary Huber.

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Behind the Mic talks TRANSMENTATION | TRANSIENCE

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb is joined by author Cadwell Turnbull and Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham to talk about TRANSMENTATION | TRANSIENCE, the first installment in a sprawling and ambitious multiverse filled with adventure and political intrigue. Graham’s intense yet soft-spoken presentation of the narrative sets the background for the dialogue, which he delivers with a masterful use of tone, inflection, volume, and accents. Listen as they discuss moments that influenced Graham’s narration process, Turnbull’s vision on the ultimate sound and feeling of the audiobook, and what it’s like to be one of five authors in a trenchcoat.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Blackstone Publishing.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Blackstone Publishing.

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SOUTH OF NOWHERE by Jeffery Deaver, read by Kaleo Griffith

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss this gripping audiobook. Colter Shaw—tracker and survivalist—is hired to locate a missing family trapped after a levee collapses during a catastrophic storm. As he searches, Shaw uncovers a sinister plot that suggests the disaster may not have been entirely natural. Narrator Kaleo Griffith delivers a masterful performance, giving each character a distinct and memorable voice. With layered characters brought to life with escalating tension and outstanding narration, this latest installment in the series is a taut thriller that showcases Jeffery Deaver's storytelling and Griffith's exceptional vocal range.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio and NIGHT WATCHER, by Daphne Woolsoncroft (of the Going West podcast), who read an audio-exclusive author's note before the stunning dual-narration by Will Collyer and Helen Laser.

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WARRIOR POSE by Susan Rogers, John Roosen, read by Rupert Degas

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Rupert Degas returns to transport listeners to New Zealand and Indonesia in the fourth Yoga Mat mystery. Fans will recognize returning characters, while listeners new to the series will find enough backstory to follow along. Australian secret agent Ric Peters wrestles with the dangers of his job and his need to protect his fiancée, a lawyer and yoga instructor. A visit to Ric’s parents in New Zealand leads to two missing-person cases linked to a toxic waste site. Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten as they uncover Degas’s masterful delivery of the fast-paced, nonstop, life-and-death situations.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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KING OF ASHES by S.A. Cosby, read by Adam Lazarre-White

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adam Lazarre-White once again immerses listeners in a dark, complex world crafted by S.A. Cosby. Join AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed as they discuss this gripping story which explores identity, justice, and long-buried family trauma. When Roman Carruthers returns to his hometown to care for his dying father and support his sister, he’s drawn into rescuing his troubled brother. As past and present collide, the mystery of their mother’s decades-old disappearance resurfaces. Lazarre-White masterfully voices a wide range of characters—male and female—capturing both external conflict and internal turmoil with emotional depth.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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KILL YOUR DARLINGS by Peter Swanson, read by Steven Weber

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Peter Swanson’s intriguing mystery, superbly delivered by Steven Weber. The audiobook’s structure goes backwards from 2023 to 1982—telling a story that’s like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Thom and Wendy Graves have been married for 25 years. When Wendy discovers Thom is about to reveal a terrible secret, she decides she must kill him. With timing, keen sensibilities, and touches of dramatic irony, Weber makes each important moment in the couple’s lives as real as the moment before. A clever premise does not disappoint, and Weber’s performance makes it even better.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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Behind the Mic talks THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SASHA RENEE, a Dreamscape ‘Audio First’ title

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb is joined by Golden Voice narrator Bahni Turpin to talk about THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SASHA RENEE, the first entry in THE GOSPEL OF GRACE WOMEN trilogy. Turpin’s masterful performance breathes relatability into the character of Sasha Renee Billingsly as she navigates her views on herself, love, and spirituality. Listen as Turpin discusses how she engaged aspects of her craft to embody a variety of characters in the audiobook, and how the audio-only format offers a unique storytelling experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Dreamscape First.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Dreamscape.

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ORDINARY TIME by Annie B. Jones, Emily P. Freeman [Fore.], read by Annie B. Jones, Emily P. Freeman [Fore.]

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss Annie B. Jones’s essay collection, which she also narrates, about all the ways an ordinary life can feel extraordinary. An independent bookstore owner and host of the popular podcast “From the Front Porch,” Jones narrates with confidence, a lively intonation, and expert pacing. The Florida native has a sweet voice with an audible smile that welcomes listeners into her life as she tells thoughtful, often funny anecdotes that explore what makes life meaningful.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman, read by Marin Ireland

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine dive into the latest novel by the talented Swedish novelist Fredrik Backman. Golden Voice narrator Marin Ireland grandly performs this story of art, friendship, and what it means to be a teen. Ireland replicates the snarky tone of Louisa, who has just released herself from foster care to go see the work of art that is the fulcrum of the plot. Backman has created indelible characters and laugh-out-loud moments. Ireland is simply splendid.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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LIFE IN THREE DIMENSIONS by Shigehiro Oishi, read by Brian Nishii

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed explore Brian Nishii’s exceptional performance of this touching, well-documented personal growth audiobook. The author, a psychology professor and native of Japan, explains through vivid personal stories and accessible research that a psychologically rich life can be ours by nurturing our curiosity, exploring the novel and unfamiliar, and becoming open to experiences that provoke strong emotions and memorable moments.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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I SEE YOU'VE CALLED IN DEAD by John Kenney, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine as they discuss John Kenney’s latest novel, which successfully walks a tightrope between dark humor and genuine warmth. Sean Patrick Hopkins’s narration provides the necessary balance. Bud Stanley is a newspaper writer who one night drunkenly writes and publishes his own obituary, setting in motion a grimly amusing series of events. Together, author and narrator have created a funny and affirming novel about how understanding death can transform one’s life.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Zibby Publishing

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Celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Margaret Pinard take a deep dive into one of Austen’s later novels, PERSUASION, marvelously narrated by Golden Voice Juliet Stevenson. Stevenson’s vocal interpretations make the characters pop with life, and her narration enhances the text so beautifully that one thinks the author must have coached her. It’s the perfect time to revisit this classic, or to listen to it for the first time. Happy birthday, Jane Austen!

Read our review of PERSUASION at our website.

Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

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THE LIVING MOUNTAIN by Nan Shepherd, read by Tilda Swinton, Robert Macfarlane [Intro.], Jenny Odell [Afterword]

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Join AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and Host Jo Reed as they share an audiobook for the soul. This exquisite work of nature writing celebrating Scotland’s Cairngorms mountains remains a classic of ecological observation. Tilda Swinton’s rendition of Nan Shepherd’s poetic prose mesmerizes. Her tone is exceptionally clear, her pace adds drama, and her style of narrating is immersive. Written in the 1940s, the book remained unpublished until the 1970s. Shepherd appreciated these mountains in all seasons and lived near them for much of her life. The language sings, “Nothing is so ghostly as mist over snow.”

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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AFTERTASTE by Daria Lavelle, read by Ari Fliakos, Tessa Albertson, André Santana, Kristen Sieh

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Ari Fliakos's exceptional performance of haunted Kostya Duhovny is among the many pleasures of this immersive debut, says AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff. In discussion with Host Jo Reed, they delve into Kostya’s supernatural ability to bring back the dead through food. Fliakos is ably aided by Tessa Albertson, André Santana, and Kristen Sieh, who all do fine work. But it’s Fliakos’s tour-de-force narration that elevates this listening experience.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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THE CONTAINMENT by Michelle Adams, read by Janina Edwards

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This audiobook tells the story of the 1970 legal action that first attempted to desegregate Detroit’s schools. Join AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and Host Jo Reed as they discuss this audiobook subtitled “Detroit, the Supreme Court, and the Battle for Racial Justice in the North.” Janina Edwards narrates in a compelling tone, a vivid style, and a clear sense of the importance of this action. Generations of Black people were contained in neighborhoods within the infamous Eight Mile Road in Detroit, attending schools that were inferior to those in other almost all-white suburbs.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Macmillan Audio.

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MARK TWAIN by Ron Chernow, read by Jason Culp

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff kick off the week with this compelling and comprehensive audiobook delivered by Jason Culp. He convincingly portrays the great humorist in all his guises—raconteur, lecturer, parent, public figure, wit, and philosopher—homespun and not. Culp expertly narrates the exposition (and in a 44-hour biography there’s plenty) and modulates his voice and pitch for different speakers. Chernow, master biographer of Washington, Hamilton, and Grant, turns his considerable skills as a researcher, writer, and interpreter to America’s greatest wit.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Penguin Audio.

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Earphones Award Roundup

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi discuss three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks and why they are well worth your listening time. Elmore Leonard’s classic, GET SHORTY, gets a fresh narration from actor Joe Mantegna, just in time for Leonard’s centennial celebration in October 2025. Brian Nishii gives an exceptional performance of Shigehiro Oishi’s LIFE IN THREE DIMENSIONS: How Curiosity, Exploration, and Experience Make a Fuller, Better Life. And Jason Culp will make you want to spend 44 hours with Mark Twain in Ron Chernow’s latest blockbuster biography.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

GET SHORTY Published by Harper Audio

LIFE IN THREE DIMENSIONS Published by Random House Audio

MARK TWAIN Published by Penguin Audio

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MURDER AT GULLS NEST by Jess Kidd, read by Siobhan McSweeney

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Siobhan McSweeney captures each nuance of this creepy yet moving mystery set in 1952 in a decaying English seaside town. Join AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester and host Jo Reed as they meet Nora, who leaves a convent after 30 years to search for a young novice named Freda. McSweeney sounds determined as Nora subtly observes and questions the odd and secretive residents, who have varied accents and post-WWII memories. The atmospheric weather, scenic promenade, and gentle humor, including religious wordplay, keep listeners fully involved. Read our review of the audiobook at our website: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/269067/.

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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FAULT LINES by Nora Shalaway Carpenter, read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, André Santana

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester as they dive into narratives of two unique teens—Viv, who is fighting against fracking in her town, and Dex, who struggles with poverty and hopes his mother’s new job with the pipeline will provide security. André Santana’s calm delivery of Dex’s dialogue presents a counterpoint to Viv’s emotionality, narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. Both narrators build the interior and exterior tensions as the teens grow to care for each other.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Hachette Audio.

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SOMEONE LIKE ME by Clem Bastow, Jo Case [Eds.], read by Kira Fixx, Scott Turner Schofield, Vera Tan, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Subhadra Newton, Elaine Wang, Sanya Simmons

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

To push back against the stereotype that all autistic people are cisgender white men, editors Clem Bastow and Jo Case have brought together twenty-five women and gender-diverse autistic writers. AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester and host Jo Reed discuss these writers and their lived experiences. Together, the ensemble of narrators creates emotional depth and gives each essay an unique feel and voice. Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Penguin Audio.

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HAPPY LAND by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, read by Bahni Turpin, Ashley J. Hobbs

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester dive into dazzling performances by Bahni Turpin and Ashley J. Hobbs in this historical fiction audiobook. When Nikki drives into the mountains of North Carolina to visit her grandmother for the first time, she doesn’t know what to expect. Soon, she’s learning all about her ancestor, Luella, who was queen of a small kingdom in Happy Land. Together, Hobbs and Turpin pair perfectly, bringing vibrant energy to their performances. Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for Behind the Mic comes from Hachette Audio and NIGHT WATCHER, by Daphne Woolsoncroft (of the Going West podcast), who read an audio-exclusive author's note before the stunning dual-narration by Will Collyer and Helen Laser.

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Who’s Listening? Author Patti Callahan Henry

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

As readers of AudioFile Magazine know, we have a feature called “Listening With,” where AudioFile talks with top authors, narrators, and many others about how and why they listen to audiobooks. It's such a popular feature that we decided to expand it to the podcast, and our first guest for our Who's Listening bonus episode is Patti Callahan Henry, an award-winning and bestselling author of some 18 novels. She's known for books that combine historical detail with character driven storytelling, and her latest, THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND, narrated by Golden Voice Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon, is a perfect example of this. Patti Callahan Henry joins host Jo Reed to talk about her own audiobooks, and about how listening to audiobooks fits into her life—as Patti tells us, “I always have an audiobook going. Always.”

Find reviews of Patti Callahan Henry’s audiobooks at AudioFile’s website

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THE LAMB by Lucy Rose, read by Emma Rydal

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey discuss Emma Rydal’s intense performance of this horror audiobook. Rydal’s portrayal of Margot, a child living with her cannibalistic mother (“Mama”), will remain with listeners long after the devastating climax of this audiobook. Throughout her childhood, lost and wayward travelers of all ages, people deemed “strays,” are lured inside their home, where they’re murdered and eaten. Rydal deepens the visceral experience of this must-listen production with her unsettling depiction of Mama’s mercurial temperament.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio.

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THE SUMMER I ATE THE RICH by Maika Moulite, Maritza Moulite, read by Melinda Sewak, Mieko Gavia, Zuri Washington, Khaya Fraites, Fedna Jacquet, Ashley De La Rosa

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey chat about this horror audiobook about a Haitian American teen whose zombie abilities are grounded in Haitian folklore. Melinda Sewak primarily narrates with tender, sometimes sinister, delivery of food descriptions which enhances the story’s evocative language. Her narration smoothly transitions between Brielle’s American accent and her mother’s French Creole. Other narrators present as a cast, voicing Brielle’s sisters as a Haitian chorus.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio.

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WHEN THE WOLF COMES HOME by Nat Cassidy, read by Helen Laser, Nat Cassidy

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrated primarily by Helen Laser, this fast-paced horror story starts with a bang. Jess, a struggling actress, finds a scared 5-year-old boy hiding outside her apartment. When the boy’s angry father attempts to retrieve him, a monstrous creature attacks Jess’s neighbors and roommate, leaving behind death and destruction. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey discuss Laser’s portrayal of the boy with a careful balance of youthful fear and sad resolution. Her authentic depiction of Jess thoughtfully shifts between solicitousness of the boy, slowly increasing dread, and acute fear.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio.

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EAT THE ONES YOU LOVE by Sarah Maria Griffin read by Lauren O'Leary, Barry McStay

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey explore this horror audiobook about a possessive orchid and the humans it wants to consume. Narrators Lauren O’Leary and Barry McStay deliver a chilling performance. O’Leary seamlessly delivers Irish and American accents. McStay voices Baby, the orchid, by adopting a callous, judgmental voice as he describes the thoughts and actions of the humans around him, speaking primarily in an Irish accent. An immersive, spooky overlap of voices near the end cleverly captures Baby’s slow exertion of influence upon another human.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio.

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A conversation about SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb is joined by narrator Nile Bullock, producer Brian Ramcharan, and Penguin Random House Audio Senior Vice President of Content Production Dan Zitt for a conversation about Jason Reynolds’s SOUNDTRACK—an audiobook original about New York City teens whose talent and love of music lift them to unexpected heights. Listen as the group discusses capturing the feel of New York City through sound, Nile’s superbly relatable performance as main character Stuy, and how the incorporation of Justin Ellington's extensive and essential musical score gives SOUNDTRACK its soundtrack. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Listening Library. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Penguin Random House.

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AWAKE IN THE FLOATING CITY by Susanna Kwan, read by Catherine Ho

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb chat about Catherine Ho’s masterful performance of Susanna Kwan’s poignant debut novel. Set in a rain-drenched near-future San Francisco, the story follows Bo, a young elder-care worker who faces uncertainty after her mother’s disappearance. When Mia, Bo’s centenarian neighbor, offers the solitary Bo a job, she readily accepts. Ho blends dulcet tones and resonance to provide an impressive emotional range that captures Bo’s reluctance to live in Canada with her relatives and her transformative friendship with Mia.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio.

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JULIE CHAN IS DEAD by Liann Zhang, read by Yu-Li Alice Shen

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss narrator Yu-Li Alice Shen’s delivery of a wild, bingeable listening experience in this fast-paced debut. Identical twins Julie and Chloe, who lost their parents at age 4, grew up worlds apart. Julie, who was raised by their miserable, greedy aunt, works a dead-end job, while Chloe, who was adopted by a wealthy family, lives a life of luxury and is a popular influencer. Shen masterfully captures the dark humor and keeps listeners entertained with a dynamic performance.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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SKY DADDY by Kate Folk, read by Kristen Sieh

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Kristen Sieh's performance brings the listener into the life of a complicated woman whose sexual desire is fixated on commercial airliners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb highlight how Sieh's voice captures Lisa's desires in a skillful delivery that never wavers. Lisa works as an online comment moderator in San Francisco. She's good at her job, but she reserves her passion for airplanes. She perceives flights as dates, turbulence as flirtation—and a smooth flight could lead to something more. Lisa's friends begin to suspect something when her vision board fills up with plane imagery.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Random House Audio.

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TILT by Emma Pattee, read by Ariel Blake

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Ariel Blake narrates this story of nine-months-pregnant Annie, who must find a way to reach her husband and make her way home from crib-shopping after an earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss how Blake’s dramatic narration captures Annie's fears and concerns as she talks to "Bean," her unborn child. Blake's voice quavers as she presents a mother-to-be who is full of emotion and self-reflection. Blake conveys Annie's worries, as well as the day-to-day details of her and her husband's lives while confronting the natural disaster.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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In Conversation with Kimberly Farr, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Kimberly Farr has had a long and distinguished career as an actor on stage and screen and as a celebrated audiobook narrator. A gifted performer with an impressive range, Kimberly has brought characters and stories to life, in fiction and nonfiction alike. Whether it’s Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge novels, Joan Didion’s essays, the biography of Julia Child, or the poetry of Mary Oliver, Kimberly captures their voices with rare clarity, nuance, and a deep understanding of language. So it’s no surprise that AudioFile named her a 2025 Golden Voice narrator. In this bonus episode, host Jo Reed and Kimberly Farr speak about Kimberly’s path to audiobook work and what it means to inhabit every voice on the page.

Read reviews of Kimberly Farr’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing , publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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THE LIGHTNING BOTTLES by Marissa Stapley, read by Bahni Turpin

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Bahni Turpin's performance takes listeners to that time in the early 1990s when the world was changing and the latest alternative rock bands were everything. Jane meets burgeoning rock star Elijah in an Internet chat room, a connection that leads to a deep professional and personal bond. They form The Lightning Bottles and amass a devoted fan base, with Jane providing the backbone of their hits. Join AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings and host Jo Reed as they discuss Turpin’s narration, which provides listeners with a soundscape capturing the spirit of the time. Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website . Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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DEEP CUTS, by Holly Brickley, read by Jayme Mattler

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings agree that music enthusiasts will enjoy this debut audiobook, invitingly narrated by Jayme Mattler. The story is part slow-burn romance and part new adult fiction. In the early 2000s, Berkeley students Percy and Joe meet at a campus bar. Joe is fascinated by Percy's strong opinions on music and asks her to help him with his songwriting. After their collaboration, Joe's indie music career takes off, but he fails to give her songwriting credit. Mattler skillfully draws listeners into this story of romance, ambition, and identity. Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio

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ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS HATE ME by Sarah Harman, read by Georgina Sadler

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Profanity seems to be the only way to adequately describe the outrageous behavior of a classmate of Florence’s 10-year-old son, Dylan. Narrator Georgina Sadler’s resigned matter-of-fact delivery sets a hilariously irreverent tone in this addictive listen, says AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings and host Jo Reed. Just as it seems there might finally be an opening for Florence to revive the pop band career of her youth, Dylan’s classmate goes missing. When Dylan is identified as a suspect, Florence must juggle her dream of stardom with tackling the mystery. Listeners will savor every minute of this dynamic narration. Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio

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ONLY STARS KNOW THE MEANING OF SPACE by Rémy Ngamije, read by Janina Edwards, Aaron Goodson, Dennis Kleinman, Anthony Oseyemi

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

⁠Host Jo Reed is joined by AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings, who dives into this absorbing look at contemporary Namibian life. Loosely threaded together into "A" and "B" sides, like a mixtape, the material has a natural rhythm. Anthony Oseyemi portrays the brash writer-on-the-make voice of the "A-side," which recounts how his dreams of becoming a successful writer were confounded by his struggles with women. The "B-side" provides the compelling backbone to the audiobook's themes of growth and survival.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website . Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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In Conversation with Vikas Adam, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Vikas Adam is one of the most dynamic and skilled audiobook narrators working today, with a voice that brings dragons, detectives, and deeply human characters to life. His talent behind the mic has set him apart in the field and has earned him a place as one of AudioFile magazine’s Golden Voices. As actor, director, and teacher, Vikas brings a deep well of theatrical experience and empathy to every performance. He effortlessly voices a host of accents and easily shifts between genders, whether he’s narrating a sprawling fantasy series, a poignant family story, or a complex historical narrative. In this bonus episode, host Jo Reed and Vikas Adam discuss his approach to narration, theatrical roots, and how he builds such distinctive and believable characters. Read reviews of Vikas Adam’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website. Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Bob Goff, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, and so many more!

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THEY ALL FALL THE SAME by Wes Browne, read by Matt Godfrey

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Matt Godfrey evokes a dark mood in this Appalachian thriller set in Eastern Kentucky. AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester and host Jo Reed discuss the way crime boss Burl Spoon’s world is turned upside down. Spoon built his business empire by becoming the top cannabis seller in Jackson County. He thinks he has everything under control, until his daughter relapses into drug addiction and goes missing. Godfrey delivers the perfect Kentucky accent and maintains the story’s tension throughout. Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Dreamscape

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VERA WONG'S GUIDE TO SNOOPING (ON A DEAD MAN) by Jesse Q. Sutanto, read by Eunice Wong

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Vera Wong is back, bringing with her characters from Sutanto’s previous audiobook, along with a host of new suspects and friends. Narrator Eunice Wong’s attention to pitch and pacing perfectly re-creates the voices of Vera’s original community while fashioning a new set of personalities, young and old. Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester as they discuss the second audiobook in the series, featuring the 60-year-old Chinese mother and self-styled super sleuth, which is just as entertaining and thought-provoking as the first.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website

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BIBLIOPHOBIA by Sarah Chihaya, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Traci Kato-Kiriyama’s delivery of this memoir about life and reading matches its deeply personal subject matter with an introspective tone. Kato-Kiriyama gives equal weight to the author’s reflections on her academic career; personal struggles, including breakdowns and identity issues; and literary encounters. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Kato-Kiriyama maximizes the author’s discussion of specific books. As Kato-Kiriyama’s delivery supports the emotional weightiness of these explorations, fans of memoirs will enjoy an engaging and layered listening experience. Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio.

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FLIRTING LESSONS by Jasmine Guillory, read by Heidi Franklin

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 12:51:00 -0000

Heidi Franklin narrates this queer romance with emotional depth and chemistry in every spicy scene. Newly single serial dater, Taylor Cameron, makes a bet with her best friend that she won’t sleep with anyone until the end of the summer. Enter Avery Jensen, an also newly single woman looking to venture into dating women for the first time. Taylor offers to tutor Avery in flirting lessons, and the rest is history. Join AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester and host Jo Reed as they kick off the week with this romance pick.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website:

https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/270540/

Published by Penguin Audio.

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In Conversation with Hillary Huber, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is thrilled to name Hillary Huber one of our 2025 Golden Voices—our narrator hall of fame and lifetime achievement award. Hillary’s voice is well known to audiobook lovers everywhere: It’s compelling, nuanced, and instantly engaging. With more than 700 audiobooks to her name, she’s brought life to everything from chilling thrillers to intricate literary fiction, including Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Quartet and Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series. Hillary brings care and craft to every performance. Host Jo Reed speaks with Hillary Huber about how she found her way to audiobook narration, the craft behind her performances, and what the Golden Voice recognition means to her.

Read reviews of Hillary Huber’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

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Celebrating Kimberly Farr, Golden Voice Narrator

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to celebrate Kimberly Farr and her remarkable narration career, culminating in her 2025 Golden Voice honor. Together, they explore Farr’s expansive body of work—spanning more than 100 titles across fiction, biography, and poetry. From the delight of narrating Julia Child’s biography to her profound sensitivity in voicing poetry, Farr’s deep respect for language, her emotional range, and the artistry she brings to every performance are worthy of celebration.

Read reviews of Kimberly Farr’s audiobooks on our website.

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

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Celebrating Vikas Adam, Golden Voice Narrator

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins Jo Reed to celebrate Vikas Adam’s dynamic approach to audiobook narration and his recognition as a 2025 Golden Voice narrator. Adam shares insights into the craft of authentically embodying a wide spectrum of characters—across genders, cultures, and accents—infusing each performance with vitality and depth. Renowned for his graceful delivery and emotional precision, we honor Vikas Adam and his outstanding achievement as a 2025 Golden Voice.

Read reviews of Vikas Adam’s audiobooks on our website.

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

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Celebrating Hillary Huber, Golden Voice Narrator

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to celebrate Hillary Huber’s prolific audiobook career and her recognition as a 2025 Golden Voice narrator. They highlight standout moments from Huber’s narration of more than 500 titles, including her acclaimed performances of Elena Ferrante’s novels. The conversation offers insights into Huber’s versatile approach across genres and her ability to engage listeners with authenticity, nuance, and attitude. Congratulations to Hillary Huber, a 2025 Golden Voice!

Read reviews of Hillary Huber’s audiobooks on our website.

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

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Announcing 2025 Golden Voices

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine’s Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the audiobook universe. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are announcing the new Golden Voice honorees for 2025: Hillary Huber, Vikas Adam, and Kimberly Farr. AudioFile Magazine has bestowed the Golden Voice honor on 53 audiobook narrators; it’s an accolade that honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. We’re celebrating the iconic skills these narrators bring to their performances, and listeners can be assured that when they pick up an audiobook narrated by any of the Golden Voices, they will have an exceptional listening experience.

Robin and Jo will be honoring each of the new Golden Voices in turn this week, and we’ll have full interviews with each of the new Golden Voices this month, starting with Hillary Huber’s on June 6 — be sure to follow our podcast so you don’t miss it!

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Enjoy our Spotify Playlist to all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice Interviews

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Earphones Award Round Up

Fri, 30 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi highlight three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks and share why they’re worth your listening time. Author/narrator Brad Meltzer’s inspiring MAKE MAGIC, based on a commencement speech he gave, is perfect for graduation season. Then it’s time to kick off the season with two summer listens. THE SUMMER GUESTS by Tess Gerritsen and expertly narrated by Hillary Huber, who listeners might mistake for a full cast, is a crime thriller set on the Maine coast features retired CIA agents. And Molly Harper’s A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR is an entertaining tale of wedding planning gone wrong. Amanda Ronconi’s dry delivery is a great match for the snarky dialogue.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

MAKE MAGIC

THE SUMMER GUESTS

A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR

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GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

Thu, 29 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan delights listeners with this heartfelt contemporary romance. Alice and Hayden are both writers who find themselves on Little Crescent Island for the same reason: They’re competing to write the biography of an elusive heiress, the daughter of one of the most scandalous families of the twentieth century, whom no one has actually seen in years. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine discuss Whelan’s expressive yet nuanced performance, which expertly conveys Alice and Hayden’s hilarious, genuine, and intimate conversations.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio

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WHERE THE HEART SHOULD BE by Sarah Crossan, read by Sophie Jo Wasson

Wed, 28 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Sophie Jo Wasson transports listeners to Ireland in 1847 with her poignant performance. Like many throughout the country, Nell’s family’s potato crop is infected with a black rot that makes the potatoes inedible. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine discuss the way that Wasson’s lilting intonation and Irish accent take listeners into Nell’s world, capturing the devastation, terror, and dashes of hope experienced by the teenager. Simply exquisite.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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THE FALL RISK by Abby Jimenez, read by Julia Whelan, Connor Crais

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Julia Whelan and Connor Crais deliver unique performances in Abby Jimenez’s short yet moving audio romance. AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed chat about two neighbors who meet due to a construction mix-up. Seth and Charlotte connect and talk about their isolated lives, and their conversations come alive with the narrators’ expert deliveries. While most romances cover a longer time period, this one emphasizes the impact of a moment and the potential of a fresh start.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Brilliance Audio

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THE OWL WAS A BAKER'S DAUGHTER by Grace Tiffany, read by Mary Jane Wells

Mon, 26 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The Early Modern English of Shakespeare’s time sets up an immersive auditory realm where listeners find 61-year-old apothecary and midwife Judith. She is the last of the Bard’s progeny, and she must leave town after being accused of witchcraft. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Leslie Fine discuss the way that narrator Mary Jane Wells’s fluted tones and English accent add to the authenticity of the characters as Judith and her traveling companion struggle to deal with the upheaval wrought by England’s Civil War. It’s not necessary to be familiar with the literature or history of this era to enjoy this engrossing story.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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Talking with Actor Whoopi Goldberg

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb speaks with actor and author Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi won the 2025 Audie Award for Narration by the Author for her memoir BITS AND PIECES: My Mother, My Brother, and Me. Whoopi is also a huge audiobook fan and dedicated listener, and in her acceptance speech at the Audies gala, she thanked all of the other narrators in the room for their work. Their conversation provides insights into the story of Whoopi's family, the hardest parts of narrating, and why Whoopi thinks that audiobooks are the best thing since sliced bread.

Read our review of BITS AND PIECES at the AudioFile website

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ABUNDANCE by Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson, read by Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson

Thu, 22 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Popular podcasters Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson ask a complicated question: What’s wrong with how our government operates, and what needs to change? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb dive into this thorough and intelligent discussion that sounds the alarm without sounding alarmist. Operation Warp Speed’s federal/private partnership to quickly create a COVID-19 vaccine is presented as a healthy example of how focus and efficiency can meet a nation’s most dire needs.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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MY NEXT BREATH by Jeremy Renner, read by Jeremy Renner

Wed, 21 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Actor Jeremy Renner narrates his memoir about a freak accident and the resulting horrendous injuries he suffered on New Year’s Day 2023. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss Renner’s moving efforts as he describes the support he received from loved ones and many others as he made a truly miraculous recovery. With audible emotion, Renner navigates his reflections on life and death. He makes clear his desire to help others who are experiencing daunting challenges.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio

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CARELESS PEOPLE by Sarah Wynn-Williams, read by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Tue, 20 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed dig into this tell-all exposé written and performed by a former insider at Facebook. Author Sarah Wynn-Williams tells her personal story of her climb to the upper branches of management at Facebook and the disappointment she felt at every move. While acknowledging that most users consider Facebook a friendly, useful tool, Wynn-Williams perfectly articulates her concerns about what goes on behind the curtain.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio

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RUN FOR THE HILLS by Kevin Wilson, read by Marin Ireland

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Marin Ireland’s narration of this family dramedy maximizes the humor behind finding a half-sibling—only to find out there may be dozens more. Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb as they discuss Ireland’s subtle vocal shifts in balancing the story's deadpan humor and emotional depth. Ireland’s interpretation deepens the story’s themes of identity, family, and forgiveness, making the audiobook an immersive experience.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harper Audio

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BONUS: In Conversation with Cynthia Leitich Smith and Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Fri, 16 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting host Jo Reed’s conversation with author Cynthia Leitich Smith and narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett about collaborating on audiobooks, writing and narrating for young people, and representing Indigenous experiences and voices. Cynthia’s newest audiobook, FIREFLY SEASON, under her Heartdrum imprint for Harper Audio, has just been released.

Looking for a teen summer listen? Check out AudioFile’s Teen AudioBook Club Pick: REZ BALL by Byron Graves and narrated by Jesse Nobess—also from Cynthia’s Heartdrum imprint. Find videos, discussion questions, and more at AudioFile’s website

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THE PARIS EXPRESS by Emma Donoghue, read by Justin Avoth

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This thrill ride of an audiobook tells the many stories of those onboard Train 721, which crashed in Montparnasse station in October 1895. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed discuss narrator Justin Avoth, who performs the drama at a good pace and keeps the story moving. Donoghue brings her plotting skills, eloquent style, and eye for social mores to the cast of fictional people who are on the train. Tension mounts as a young anarchist carries a homemade bomb, a baby is born, and, inexorably, the train plows into the station.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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THE ANTIDOTE by Karen Russell, read by Elena Rey, Sophie Amoss, Mark Bramhall, Shayna Small, Jon Orsini, Natasha Soudek, Karen Russell, James Riding

Wed, 14 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this audiobook’s stellar cast as they conjure the American Dust Bowl. Sophie Amoss’s narration shimmers as the Antidote, a "prairie witch" who takes verbal deposits; Asphodel Oletsky, a teen recently orphaned when her mom was murdered, is vividly portrayed by Elena Rey; and the masterful Mark Bramhall inhabits the sane, sensitive, long-suffering wheat farmer, Harp Oletsky. Highlights include dramatic dust and wind descriptions, a talking scarecrow, and a camera that makes its own photos of the past, the present, and a possible future.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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THE DREAM HOTEL by Laila Lalami, read by Frankie Corzo, Barton Caplan

Tue, 13 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff talk about Laila Lalami’s dystopian novel, set in an uncomfortably near future. It’s narrated by an exceptional Frankie Corzo, who voices an innocent woman incarcerated for her dreams. Much of the narrative is the protagonist Sara’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions. The novel is reminiscent of Kafka and Orwell, had they lived in the Internet Age. Sara and her cohorts’ mysterious plight seem frighteningly possible. This eloquently written, Earphones Award-winning audiobook lingers with the listener.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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BIG CHIEF by Jon Hickey, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Shaun Taylor-Corbett narrates Jon Hickey’s powerful story of politics, corruption, and loyalty. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the way that Taylor-Corbett, in an Earphones Award-winning performance, delivers the dialogue with restraint and intelligence and is masterful in bringing this compelling novel to life. Protagonist Mitch Caddo leads a conflicted life as an outsider with an Ivy League law degree and a "fixer" for the fictional Passage Rouge Nation. The plot revolves around the days just before a tribal election when issues arise involving tribal membership and past suspect business dealings.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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CUISINES OF CHINA

Fri, 09 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Editor Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed shine a spotlight on three delicious audiobooks all about the rich history of Chinese cuisine. For the youngest listeners, A BANQUET FOR CECILIA by Julie Leung and read by Cindy Kay tells the story of restaurateur Cecilia Chiang. For middle-grade listeners, Grace Lin’s CHINESE MENU, read by Lisa Ling, shares tales of iconic dishes and dragons, monks, emperors, and other heroes. And for grown-ups, the mouthwatering INVITATION TO A BANQUET, written and read by Fuchsia Dunlop, takes listeners on a tour of China and regional foods. Don’t listen hungry!

Read our reviews of the audiobook at our website:

A BANQUET FOR CECILIA

INVITATION TO A BANQUET

CHINESE MENU

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NOBODY'S FOOL by Harlan Coben, read by Vikas Adam

Thu, 08 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Vikas Adam masterfully draws listeners into this nonstop thriller featuring disgraced former NYPD detective Sami Kierce. AudioFile Editor Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss the way that Adam expertly voices a wide range of characters, keeping listeners engaged. The story begins with a secret from more than 20 years earlier, when Sami, fresh from college, backpacked through Europe and had a brief romance with a beautiful American woman. Fast-forward to the present: Twists and turns come quickly as Sami investigates the disappearance of a wealthy young woman and threats to his family. Adam perfectly matches Harlan Coben’s emotional beats, enhancing every tense moment in this roller-coaster thriller.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Hachette Audio

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DEAR WRITER by Maggie Smith, read by Maggie Smith

Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Editor Robin Whitten discuss this nonfiction audiobook chock full of ideas. Poet Maggie Smith’s newest audiobook offers all kinds of artists helpful advice about what she sees as the 10 essential elements of creativity: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. Her light, sweet-sounding voice often assumes a poet’s studied rhythmic cadence as she narrates with beautifully clear enunciation. Smith’s advice is both kind and tough-minded. What’s most important, she emphasizes, is that “we have to love making things more than we love having made them.”

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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THE BUSINESS TRIP by Jessie Garcia, read by Andrew Eiden, Dylan Reilly Fitzpatrick, Fred Berman, Gail Shalan, Hillary Huber, Jennifer Pickens, John Pirhalla, Kimberly M. Wetherell, Kirby Heyborne, Tim Campbell

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In Garcia’s debut thriller, the listening experience is memorable because each of the narrators is superb. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Editor Robin Whitten discuss how the ensemble of narrators adds great depth to this audiobook, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in the richness of well-defined characters. A woman is presumably murdered on a business trip. All, of course, is not as it seems, and the mystery deepens with each passing moment. The result is a riveting audiobook that will keep listeners hooked from start to surprising finish.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio

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THE GHOSTS OF ROME by Joseph O'Connor, read by Stephen Hogan, Barnaby Edwards, Aoife Duffin, David John, Gertrude Toma, Laurence Bouvard

Mon, 05 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The second novel in Joseph O’Connor’s proposed trilogy bristles with life. AudioFile Editor Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss how superb performances from a talented cast reveal the thoughts and emotions of a group of righteous men and women who saved hundreds from Nazi brutality. An escape line called “The Choir” operates within Vatican walls. The group faces constant danger. The narrators portray ordinary people doing extraordinary things. O’Connor’s prose is lyrical, and each person’s story feels authentic. Stunning listening.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Dreamscape

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AudioFile Favorites: In Conversation with Golden Voice Kevin R. Free

Fri, 02 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting host Jo Reed’s conversation with Golden Voice narrator Kevin R. Free. They discuss his impressive audiobook work, his acting career, and being named a 2023 Golden Voice narrator. Kevin is a multiple Earphones Award winner for a wide range of audiobooks, from children’s stories to literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and fantastic science fiction. There are few narrators who can match his versatility and perceptive performances across genres.

Kevin has had an extraordinary career, both in the recording booth and in theater as an actor, a director, a playwright, and an artistic director. He’s recorded more than 450 audiobooks, including Martha Wells’s wildly popular Murderbot Diaries series, Brandon Taylor’s insightful works, and many memorable children’s audiobooks. Listen in to Kevin and Jo’s lively conversation to learn more about how he brings joy into the recording booth, the thought and care he puts into creating voices for every character, and more.

Read reviews of many of Kevin R. Free’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website

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EVERYTHING IS TUBERCULOSIS by John Green, read by John Green

Thu, 01 May 2025 09:00:00 -0000

On a visit to Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, bestselling author John Green met Henry, a charismatic patient who looks much younger than his age due to the ravages of a tuberculosis infection on his body. They established a friendship, and Green's interest in the disease grew, leading him to become a supporter of Partners in Health and an advocate for reducing disparities in treatment. Host Jo Reed and contributor Alex Richey discuss the way that Green presents his own account of visiting with afflicted patients and learning about the challenges they face, particularly in poorer countries, in this compassionate examination.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Listening Library

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SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by Suzanne Collins, read by Jefferson White

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Jefferson White shows remarkable skill balancing a youthful cast with the sobering reality they must face. Twenty-four years before Katniss’s games, Haymitch, from District 12, must compete in the Hunger Games—with twice the tributes (competitors). AudioFile’s Alex Richey and host Jo Reed discuss how White’s perfect pacing adds intensity to the brutality of the games and lingering melancholy as Haymitch struggles to maintain his integrity as the people around him keep dying.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Scholastic Audiobooks

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BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG by Kylie Lee Baker, read by Natalie Naudus

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Natalie Naudus embodies anxiety and fear of the supernatural with razor-sharp precision. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cora Zeng’s sister, Delilah, is murdered in a hate crime: The killer shouts “bat eater” before pushing her in front of a train. Now Cora is a crime-scene cleaner, and she’s noticed an increase in the unexplained murders of Asian women whose bodies are staged with bat corpses. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey discuss the way that Naudus’s meticulous pacing and authentic depiction of Cora’s fears will keep listeners deliciously on edge.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Harlequin Audio

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THE RIVER HAS ROOTS by Amal El-Mohtar, read by Gem Carmella

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Gem Carmella narrates a magical novella inspired by traditional ballads. Sisters Esther and Ysabel use their musical talents to tend the enchanted willow their family has honored for generations. When an unwanted suitor appears, everything they love is suddenly at risk. AudioFile contributor Alex Richey and host Jo Reed discuss how Carmella’s narration perfectly blends the fantastical elements of fairy tales with the macabre elements of traditional murder ballads. Musical effects combine with Carmella’s singing at key moments, making fraught scenes utterly devastating but ultimately more powerful. A stunning performance.

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Published by Macmillan Audio

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Earphones Award Round Up

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi highlight three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks. AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Laura and Jo discuss Rachel Syme’s fun “Guide to Modern Correspondence,” SYME’S LETTER WRITER, read by the author; Curtis Sittenfeld’s short story collection SHOW DON’T TELL, performed by seven narrators including the author; and Patti Callahan Henry’s novel THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND, narrated by Golden Voice Julia Whelan and Theo Solomon. They share why these audiobooks won Earphones, and why they are well worth your listening time.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

SYME’S LETTER WRITER Published by Random House Audio

SHOW DON’T TELL Published by Random House Audio

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER by Stephen Graham Jones, read by Shane Ghostkeeper, Marin Ireland, Owen Teale

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners don't just experience a fascinating historical drama—they also become steeped in a bloody gothic Western. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings discuss the stellar performances that are the center of this compelling listening experience. Narrator Marin Ireland fully embodies the beleaguered humanities professor who, while deep diving into the campus archive, discovers the story of her ancestors. Complete with creative production touches, the result is a dark, satisfying listen.

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Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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JUNIE by Erin Crosby Eckstine, read by Angel Pean

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Angel Pean's stand-out performance is essential here. AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings and host Jo Reed discuss how her storytelling skill fully embodies these characters and the detailed and occasionally magical world they inhabit. Junie, an enslaved girl in 1800s Alabama, lives with the loss of her sister, Minnie, whose death is a weight on her conscience. An encounter with Minnie's ghost changes Junie's life, opening a new path that could include escaping her captors. The rich listening experience envelopes listeners in the powerful story.

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Published by Random House Audio

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THE FAVORITES by Layne Fargo, read by Christine Lakin, Louisa Zhu, Amy Landon, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Suzanne Toren, Graham Halstead, Julia Emelin, Layne Fargo, Eric Yang, Johnny Weir

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners don't need to be superfans of ice skating to be drawn into this audiobook. The world of pairs skating competition provides the setting for a story of young, elite athletes who are fighting for Olympic gold. AudioFile’s Stephen Cummings and host Jo Reed discuss how the narrations are uniformly exceptional in this audiobook structured as an oral history. Standouts include Christine Lakin as the complicated lead; her voice captures a mix of focused competitiveness and messy relationships.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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BEEN WRONG SO LONG IT FEELS LIKE RIGHT by Walter Mosley, read by Dion Graham

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and contributor Stephen Cummings discuss how Dion Graham continues his stellar work with Mosley's Joe King Oliver series, bringing heart and rough edges in equal measure. Here, the private investigator's Grandma B has a dying wish: Locate her long-missing son. Oliver's complicated relationship with his father is heightened as the search brings new insights into the man. Graham, in top form, captures the grit of this New York City noir, embodying the wide cast of suspects, cops, and confidants. His delivery is so vivid it’s cinematic.

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Published by Hachette Audio

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Parking Lot Classics: A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Aurelia Scott and host Jo Reed discuss this clever historical mystery with a fabulous twist. It’s centered around Charlotte Holmes, a young woman with a gift for "discernment" and getting into trouble, who has secrets worth protecting. Golden Voice Narrator Kate Reading is masterful in her portrayals. Reading's aristocratic British voices are spot-on, and her acting is outstanding. She depicts all types of characters—funny, touching, romantic, suspenseful, haughty, old, young, wealthy, or poor—with the same believability. This is an exceptionally fine audio experience, with a story that will grab listeners from the get-go.

Read our review of the audiobook A STUDY IN SCARLET WOMEN

Published by Blackstone Audio

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DREAM STATE by Eric Puchner, read by MacLeod Andrews

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

This audiobook begins with plans for a wedding and goes on to include . . . nearly everything else. AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss MacLeod Andrews’s excellence as a narrator: gentle, funny, sharp, and intuitive. When Cece and Charlie's special day—officiated by Charlie's troubled friend, Garrett—moves in an unexpected direction, Andrews captures the characters' interactions without dramatic excess. Andrews maintains a warm and reliable voice that rewards the listener who spends time with these three people and their choices. DREAM STATE will inspire melancholy, surprise, and laughter.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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THE HARDER I FIGHT, THE MORE I LOVE YOU by Neko Case, read by Neko Case

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Singer-songwriter Neko Case narrates her memoir, and host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine discuss the way she brings to it a vitality and dynamism that give the listener a sense of actually being with her as she falls victim to manipulation by her mother, beginning at age 8. Case allows us to feel the tumult and trauma of impoverishment, neglect, and a steady stream of dislocations and relocations. The passion with which Case expresses her love of nature, horses, and music is palpable and centers listeners on what really matters, giving insights about the creative journey that led to Case’s albums and Grammy nominations. Case’s details are fresh and inventive.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Hachette Audio

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DEVOTIONS by Mary Oliver, read by Kimberly Farr

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile reviewer Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss Kimberly Farr’s narration of this collection of Mary Oliver’s poems. Many of Oliver’s poems are about God or nature, and sometimes it’s difficult to find the line between them. Her world was full of many delights and, had she lived to hear them, Farr’s interpretations of her poems would have been among them. There is some melancholy in this collection—although not much—and Farr’s marvelous vocal talents bring that out as much as the great joy Oliver derived from being in the woods or at the seashore or anywhere there was wildness.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio

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UNDER THE SAME STARS by Libba Bray, read by January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, Major Curda

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Leslie Fine discuss how a trio of narrators portray teens from different eras and settings: from Hanna and Sophie, two Polish teens, in 1939, to 1980 West Berlin, where Jenny adjusts to her family’s move from Dallas, to Brooklynite Miles, who solves the mysterious disappearances of two girls sixty years earlier. Narrators January LaVoy, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, and Major Curda heighten their performances as the story’s tension increases and connections become clear.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Author Maryrose Wood

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting our conversation between host Jo Reed and children’s book author Maryrose Wood. Maryrose is the author of, most recently, BAD BADGER, a charming fable about friendship, as well as ALICE’S FARM, and The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series that listeners can enjoy in six brilliant audiobooks. In this conversation, Maryrose shares her insights about the special relationships she has had with the narrators of her books: Katherine Kellgren for five of the six titles, and Fiona Hardingham, who picked up the reins for the last title, THE LONG-LOST HOME. Maryrose talks about how she developed the relationship between author and narrator—twice—and about choosing narrators who could find “that beautiful sweet spot between performing the book in this wildly external way while also preserving the intimacy of the reader’s relationship with the book.”

Read our reviews of Maryrose Wood’s audiobooks at our website

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THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O. by Karen Thompson Walker, read by Jay Myers, Alex Sarrigeorgiou

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Jay Myers and Alex Sarrigeorgiou keep listeners hooked throughout this haunting, Earphones Award-winning audiobook. Psychiatrist Dr. Henry Byrd is faced with a perplexing case. His newest patient, Jane O., normally can recall every detail from the events of her life. However, she cannot remember what happened in the previous 25 hours, after having blacked out. The mysterious story unfolds through Dr. Byrd’s case notes and Jane’s journal. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss how both performers masterfully execute their respective unreliable narrators and grip listeners to the end.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Random House Audio

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THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler, read by J. Smith-Cameron

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how anyone who has been a member of a wedding party will be captivated by Anne Tyler's latest audiobook, appealingly narrated by J. Smith-Cameron of “Succession” fame. She captures the intonation and Mid-Atlantic accent of 61-year-old Gail, the bride's mother, and keeps listeners oriented as the story shifts from the present-day festivities to flashbacks. Smith-Cameron deftly conveys Tyler's shrewd observations on marriage and family while illuminating the relatable story's poignancy and humor.

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Published by Random House Audio

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PIPPI LONGSTOCKING by Astrid Lindgren, read by Sutton Foster

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

First-time listeners, as well as those who once treasured this story, will be thrilled by Sutton Foster’s character portrayals. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss how Foster’s portrayal of Pippi is central to the audiobook’s success. Her narration crackles with dynamic vibrancy when it comes to Pippi’s dialogue. She depicts the wonder, confusion, and doubt of Pippi’s friends and the consternation of adults whose authority Pippi challenges. But, as it should be, nothing and no one compares to the power and brash audacity of Pippi.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Listening Library

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BROOKE SHIELDS IS NOT ALLOWED TO GET OLD by Brooke Shields, read by Brooke Shields

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

In her latest memoir, the now 59-year-old actor Brooke Shields candidly narrates her experiences entering middle age, illuminating both her personal experience and research into topics like healthcare, sex, and parenthood. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the way that Shields's stories—like the ones about her exercise-induced femur break, her journey parenting adult children, and more—are narrated with wry humor and humility and are made all the more powerful by hearing them in Shields’s clear, husky voice.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Macmillan Audio

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AudioFile Favorites: Narrator Julia Whelan on THE WOMEN

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

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HOW TO FEED THE WORLD by Vaclav Smil, read by Joe Jameson

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Joe Jameson delivers an impressive performance of this comprehensive text. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed discuss how his pace and cadence work well with this fact-filled audiobook. Smil, an energy expert, has long been a student of the planet’s food. He argues astonishingly that with some improvements in diet choices, technology, and wise use of how and where we grow crops, the planet may be able to feed its projected 10 billion inhabitants in 2050. His data-driven focus balances energy needs and real-world preferences for meat with the issues surrounding land use and climate change.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio

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THE SIRENS' CALL by Chris Hayes, read by Chris Hayes

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

After MSNBC host Chris Hayes begins his audiobook with what behavioral science knows about voluntary and involuntary attention, he explains how this fundamental human faculty is being hijacked by corporate America and slick political operatives. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Hayes is an authentic narrator of his important message. His easy-listening performance conveys a comfortable command of his emotional tone and engagement with his thinking without underplaying the gravitas of his concerns. He says our attention is becoming a commodity that corporations and political interests are exploiting without our knowledge or consent.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Penguin Audio

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ORIGINAL SINS by Eve L. Ewing, read by Robin Miles, Eve L. Ewing

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Author Ewing delivers her introduction, which sets up the arguments. She then turns the body of the text over to Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed discuss how Miles is a gifted performer whose tone, tempo, and cadence enhance the dark truths of this provocative work on the failure of our educational system. Ewing, who is a scholar and poet, indicts American schools as historically rigged against Black and Native American students. Packed with telltale episodes, this work provides sociological context. A must-listen.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website.

Published by Random House Audio

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DREAM COUNT by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, read by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Sandra Okuboyejo, A'rese Emokpae, Janina Edwards

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

The tone, tempo, and lilting intonation of all four narrators make this Earphones Award-winning listening experience rewarding. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Adichie’s first novel in more than a decade—really four connected, finely crafted novellas—simply engages the listener from the start. Three of the major characters are Nigerian women: a travel writer, a successful lawyer, a powerful business woman—and the fourth, also West African, a maid at a posh hotel. A compelling audiobook.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website:

Published by Random House Audio

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Earphones Award Roundup

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Laura Rossi discuss three recent Earphones Award-winning audiobooks. AudioFile awards Earphones to exceptional audio experiences—it’s our version of a starred review, specifically for the audiobook. Laura and Jo highlight Mary Oliver’s poetry collection DEVOTIONS, read by Kimberly Farr; Karen Thompson Walker’s novel THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O, read by Jay Myers and Alex Sarrigeorgioiu; and Alton Brown’s essay collection FOOD FOR THOUGHT, which he narrates himself. They share why these audiobooks won Earphones, and why they are well worth your listening time.

Read our reviews of the audiobooks at our website:

DEVOTIONS: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/268465/ Published by Penguin Audio

THE STRANGE CASE OF JANE O.: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/266653/ Published by Random House Audio

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/261405/ Published by SImon & Schuster Audio

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THE ECHOES by Evie Wyld, read by Sebastian Humphreys, Vivien Carter

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Sebastian Humphreys and Vivien Carter perform this complex story about Hannah, her family, and Max, Hannah’s late boyfriend who’s now haunting their London apartment. After he dies, Max watches Hannah move on with her life and marvels at how much he still had to learn about her. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how each perspective sounds unique. As the plot unfolds, Carter’s narration maintains the tension leading to every plot twist and holds the listener’s attention to the end.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/266448/

Published by Random House Audio

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STONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlotte Wood, read by Ailsa Piper

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester and host Jo Reed discuss how narrator Ailsa Piper evokes the stark Australian Outback in her performance of this captivating novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize. To escape her busy life in the city, a middle-aged woman visits a small religious community for peace and quiet. Years later, she returns to the community, this time for good. But not long after she joins the nuns in their daily life, a plague of mice descends upon the entire state. As the mice invade every nook and cranny of the nuns’ home, Piper conveys all of the eeriness of the event.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/266652/

Published by Penguin Audio

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WAITING FOR THE LONG NIGHT MOON by Amanda Peters, read by Megan Tooley, Ussani Taylor

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Megan Tooley and Ussani Taylor deliver moving performances of Amanda Peters’s short stories, which explore the Indigenous experience throughout American history. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this new work from the author of THE BERRY PICKERS. Tooley performs most of the stories, using a sweet lilting voice, gentle delivery, and subtle shading of personality. Taylor, who reads four deeply moving, emotionally difficult pieces, gives a tough and perceptive performance. Together, they create an important listening experience.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website

Published by Recorded Books

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BLACK WOODS, BLUE SKY by Eowyn Ivey, read by Rebecca Lowman

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Rebecca Lowman’s evocative performance of this atmospheric novel—with a large dash of fabulism—set in the Alaskan wilderness. Birdie is a single mom who is waitressing at a lodge when a man walks in and changes her life. Arthur is an outdoorsman, a man of few words, but it’s love at first sight. Birdie and her daughter, Emaleen, go to live with Arthur in his remote cabin, spending the summer days basking in the beautiful Alaskan mountains. It’s all idyllic—until a dark element enters the story.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/266403/

Published by Random House Audio

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In Conversation with Ann Powers and Alison Fensterstock on HOW WOMEN MADE MUSIC

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed talks with Ann Powers, critic and correspondent for NPR Music, and editor Alison Fensterstock about collaborating on HOW WOMEN MADE MUSIC, AudioFile’s spring Audiobook Club Pick. A mosaic of essays with archival recordings of the artists, HOW WOMEN MADE MUSIC: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music is an Earphones Award winner and was one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2024. Alison and Ann talk about the origins of this vibrant and ambitious project, the use of archival audio, what this recentering reveals about music history, and more.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/261162/.

Published by Harper Audio.

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SILENT SPRING by Rachel Carson, read by Susie Berneis

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Carson’s SILENT SPRING has been the gold standard of the environmental movement for more than 50 years. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how narrator Susie Berneis is more than up to the task of making the complex workings of the natural world easy for the average person to follow. Berneis truly excels when her narration mirrors the emotion Carson made so evident in her work. She is by turns passionate, saddened, uplifted, and furious at the history and impact of synthetic pesticides on every aspect of nature and our lives.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/151168/

Published by Dreamscape

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HANG ON ST. CHRISTOPHER by Adrian McKinty, read by Gerard Doyle

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Gerard Doyle once again brings the quirkiness and erudition of D.I. Sean Duffy to life as he takes on a case that his boss, who is away on vacation, can’t handle. It’s 1992 in Belfast, and the murder of an IRA assassin means that Duffy must clock more time hunting for the killer despite his efforts to cut back as he nears retirement. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss how Doyle’s slyly humorous tone makes the story feel like a caper at times as he revels in Duffy’s unorthodox approach.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/257606/

Published by Blackstone Audio

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KING: A LIFE (YOUNG ADULT EDITION) by Jonathan Eig, Yohuru Williams, Michael G. Long [Adapt.], read by Dion Graham

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Teen listeners are given a well-rounded portrait of the leading figure in the Civil Rights movement, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King—fleshed out by fascinating and coherent accounts of the events of the day and the people around him. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Golden Voice Dion Graham masterfully portrays the voices and emotions of Dr. King’s orations. This production succeeds at reinforcing the fact that the inspiring civil rights leader “is a person, not just a holiday.”

Read our review of the audiobook at our website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/265129/

Published by Macmillan Audio

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GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 by George Orwell, Joe White [Adapt.], read by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, and a Full Cast

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and Host Jo Reed discuss this 2025 Audie Award winner for Audio Drama, which is also an Earphones Award winner and was one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2024. Andrew Garfield and Cynthia Erivo lead a crew of inspired English actors in creating a full-cast, filmlike 21st-century reimagining of one of the twentieth century's most important novels. The production is peppered with eerie urban soundscapes and a haunting musical score. Andrew Scott gives a terrific turn as the enigmatic O’Brien, who leads our heroes into a world of doubt and betrayal.

Read our review of the audiobook at

https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/251022/

Published by Audible, Inc.

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JANUARIES by Olivie Blake, read by Alexandra Palting, Daniel Henning, David Monteith, Ferdelle Capistrano, Olivie Blake, Stephanie Németh-Parker, Steve West

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

A full cast of narrators, including the author, delivers this enchanting collection of short stories about love, magic, and betrayal. AudioFile’s Alex Richey and host Jo Reed discuss how each of the 14 stories is tenderly delivered by an emotionally committed narrator. Some standouts include Stephanie Németh-Parker as a woman who grants wishes at a bridge during the full moon and David Monteith portraying a man who accidentally kills the woman he intends to marry, only for her to come back and haunt him.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/256526/

Published by Macmillan Audio.

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DEATH OF THE AUTHOR by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Liz Femi, Anthony Oseyemi, Jason Culp, Chris Djuma

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Liz Femi is the primary narrator of this meta-narrative about a paraplegic Nigerian American woman and her unexpected rise to fame. Suddenly unemployed, Zelu risks writing a novel unlike any she’s ever written before, a futuristic sci-fi epic about androids who exist after humanity becomes extinct. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alex Richey discuss how Femi’s distinct voices and the rest of the narrators’ performances complement each character's personality, thoroughly enriching this Earphones Award-winning audiobook.

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LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER by Neena Viel, read by Kristolyn Lloyd, Eric Lockley, Zeno Robinson

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Alex Richey and host Jo Reed discuss how this fantastic ensemble of narrators excel equally at emotionally connecting to complicated emotional characters, elevating colloquial language, and enhancing mysterious, violent horrors. Kristolyn Lloyd portrays 25-year-old Calla as she struggles to hold her life together. Calla would do anything to keep her brothers alive and safe, but neither sibling listens to her. When Calla’s brutal nightmares come to life, the siblings must escape to a remote cabin in the woods.

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HEAVENLY TYRANT by Xiran Jay Zhao, read by Rong Fu

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rong Fu returns in the next audiobook in the Iron Widow series. Zetian has awakened Qin Zheng, legendary emperor of Huaxia from centuries past. He desires a complete overhaul of Huaxia to eliminate corruption and misogyny, but despite a common goal, it is still one Zetian is forced into. AudioFile’s Alex Richey and host Jo Reed discuss how Rong Fu skillfully adjusts her accent when voicing Qin Zheng, using a British accent most of the time, and switching to a different accent as he changes dialects. Her depictions of old and new characters are easily distinguishable.

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Behind the Mic with Marshall Karp and January LaVoy

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Author Marshall Karp and narrator January LaVoy join AudioFile’s Michele Cobb for a conversation about Marshall’s latest novel, DON’T TELL ME HOW TO DIE - a mystery-turned-thriller where January LaVoy’s superb talent brings an array of dimension to Karp’s carefully crafted characters. Marshall is the author of over a dozen crime fiction novels - including the popular NYPD Red series, co-written with James Patterson - and January is an award-winning narrator who has voiced books by Nora Roberts, Dean Koontz, and John Grisham to name just a few.

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Celebrating the 2025 Audies Winners

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the 2025 winner for Best Fiction Narrator, awarded this week at the 30th annual Audie Awards. Listen to hear their conversation and a clip from the winner! You can catch up with the Audie Awards ceremony livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/DZ6KZvPtgEA

And see the full list of this year’s finalists at the Audio Publishers Association website: https://www.audiopub.org/2025audies

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Celebrating the 2025 Audie Awards

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the 2025 winners for Audiobook of the Year and the Best Nonfiction Narrator, awarded at last night’s Audie Awards gala. Listen to hear their conversation and a clip from the winner! And you can catch up with the Audie Awards ceremony livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/DZ6KZvPtgEA

And see the full list of this year’s finalists at the Audio Publishers Association website: https://www.audiopub.org/2025audies

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Previewing the 2025 Audie Awards

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb preview the 2025 Audie Awards! This year the Audies’ 30th anniversary will be celebrated with a gala event in New York City, and with a livestream that audiobook lovers can watch from the comfort of home. Listen in as Jo and Michele discuss some of the highlights to watch for in this year’s Audie Awards. Follow along with the Audie Awards ceremony tonight: https://www.youtube.com/live/DZ6KZvPtgEA

And see the full list of this year’s finalists at the Audio Publishers Association website: https://www.audiopub.org/2025audies

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AudioFile Favorites: PLAYGROUND

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Richard Powers’s PLAYGROUND is a 2025 Audie Award Finalist for Audiobook of the Year. We’re revisiting host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff’s discussion of how the six narrators' words flow forth, immersing the listener in four central characters and the minute details that comprise their respective worlds. Sections lack titles or labels, so the distinct voice of each narrator is key to distinguishing which story is which. The performances of narrators Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae, and Kevin R. Free are equally deft; in fact, there is a consistency in pace and tone that makes this complex story accessible.

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LAKE OF SOULS: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Adjoa Andoh narrates a short story collection of speculative fiction by Ann Leckie. We’re revisiting host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discussion of this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Science Fiction. This collection includes works in the worlds of the Imperial Radch and the Raven Tower, as well as stand-alone pieces. Andoh’s stellar skills are on display in every piece, making the stories of gods, humans, and other assorted beings incredibly compelling. A stunning performance by a master narrator.

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SYSTEM COLLAPSE: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting this discussion from Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly about this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Science Fiction. Kevin R. Free is the perfect voice for Murderbot, the rogue security unit who would rather just be watching serials, but is protecting its humans — and having a mental breakdown. In a story that takes place immediately after NETWORK EFFECT, Murderbot, ART, and their humans continue to assist colonists on a planet marked for corporate salvage. Free’s depiction of Murderbot’s unresolved mental trauma is harrowing, especially as it digs into its memories to find the possible sources. There is plenty of action, too, as the team faces possible corporate and alien dangers and corruption

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THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Grant Overstake’s audio drama details racial strife in Wichita, Kansas, in 1968. We’re revisiting Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff’s discussion of this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Young Adult. A seventh-grade boy’s life becomes upended when a Black family moves in next door. The narrators of this fraught coming-of-age story are excellent. The audio drama has moments of remarkable verisimilitude: from the play-by-play announcing of a basketball game to the whirring of a helicopter in Vietnam. Performed by a gifted cast, this slice of our history stays with the listener.

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REDNECKS: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Ramiz Monsef performs Taylor Brown’s historical novel set during the Battle of Blair Mountain in the early 1920s. We’re revisiting Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester’s discussion about this 2025 Audie Award Finalist in Fiction that will keep listeners on edge until the very last second. Lebanese American “Doc Moo” Muhanna serves as a medical doctor during the Mine Wars. Monsef’s narration enlivens the characters as they give listeners various perspectives on these historical events. Monsef skillfully performs many different accents, and maintains the tension as the action of the novel picks up.

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KNIFE: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting our conversation about KNIFE, a finalist for Narration by the Author in the 2025 Audie Awards. Narrating his own work, Salman Rushdie offers an emotionally resonant account of the shocking knife attack that almost ended his life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFIle’s Michele Cobb discuss his memoir of the attack, its immediate aftermath, and the difficult recovery. Interwoven throughout are musings on literature, writing, politics, friendship, religion, and more, delivered with passion and more than a little humor. Wide-ranging and deeply insightful, this meditation on life, love, and resilience makes for compelling listening.

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SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE by Claire Keegan, read by Aidan Kelly

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how this brief novel set in a small Irish town in 1985 is no bucolic Irish tale. Aiden Kelly gives a masterful narration. Bill Furlong, the son of an unwed mother and now a coal merchant with a family, leads a comfortable life.During a coal delivery to the town’s convent, he finds a young woman locked and freezing in an outbuilding. As he learns more, he is shaken by the fate of the occupants of the Magdalene schools/laundries for unwed mothers and their babies.

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THE HISTORY OF SOUND by Ben Shattuck, read by Ben Shattuck and an ensemble cast

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The stories in this audiobook collection have subjects as wide as the list of narrators is long, and the result is excellent. AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how there is not a weak performance, and each narrator is perfectly suited to his or her story. “Radiolab: Singularities,” with its multiple narrators, makes great use of the audio format. Whether it’s Zachary Chastain’s outstanding dialogue in “August in the Forest,” or Nick Offerman’s ominous “Journal of Thomas Thurber,” or some other work, each title leaves a distinct emotional impression. The result is a truly transporting experience.

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BLUE SISTERS by Coco Mellors, read by Kit Griffiths

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Grief is a looming presence in this audiobook. The three Blue sisters try to move on after the death of Nikki, their vivacious and beloved fourth sibling. AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how Kit Griffiths narrates the sisters' parallel stories with a measured cadence, conveying the survivors' internal and external struggles as they wrestle with the past and try to salvage their futures. Overall, Griffiths offers a strong narrative voice, but she keeps the listener at a distance.

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THE LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BRONTË by Elizabeth Gaskell, read by Lucy Scott, Penelope Rawlins, Georgina Sutton, Sarah Lambie, David Timson, Nigel Pilkingtonraft

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Literary skill ensured Charlotte Brontë's place in the "classics" category, and this audiobook delves deeply into her life and times. AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how Lucy Scott is the consummate British narrator, with a brisk pace and animated tone that remain consistent through an extensive audio performance. Supporting cast members are used well to voice various primary sources; these moments highlight the quotations and break up considerable blocks of research and explanation. The transitions among the supporting voices are seamless.

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IN THE DISTANCE by Hernan Diaz, read by Alexander Skarsgard

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Leslie Fine and host Jo Reed discuss how narrator Alexander Skarsgard provides the ideal voice for this audiobook. Just as one settles in with what seems like a typical Western, something occurs that reveals there’s nothing typical about it. Hakan, a reserved Swede of intimidating size, must navigate a strange country where dangers abound. Skarsgard’s gentle tone suggests an innocence glowing halo-like over Hakan. At the same time, a tone of melancholy suggests the folly of that expectation. Not for the faint of heart, this story will awaken an appreciation for the better aspects of human nature.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Alton Brown, read by Alton Brown

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Add outstanding audiobook narrator to Brown’s deep resumé. He is aftercall a Food Network personality, cookbook author, and avid food science researcher. Given his long running gigs on Iron Chef, Good Eats and his work as a pitchman for GE, among others, no surprise that he performs his “essays and ruminations” smoothly, smartly and wittily. His range of interests is expansive: blue crab (eat in the soft shell variety), martinis (be wary of ice), Japanese cuisine (seek it out), but it’s his funny and quirky opinions—men should dress like Bond villains, kitchen tables must be wood, utensils need to multitask--that stay with the listener. A master of the bon mot, he tells stories creatively with excellent pace and tone. Highly recommended.(123)

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FOUR POINTS OF THE COMPASS by Jerry Brotton, read by Liam Garrigan

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Jerry Brotton’s brief but delightful and highly informed audiobook exploring geographic direction. Narrator Liam Garrigan has a natural storytelling style, and his British accent and professional delivery work well for the material. The central idea is how the cardinal directions gave life meaning throughout history but are now being displaced in the digital age, when the ideas of east against west and south versus north have geopolitical, rather than geographical, meanings.

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THE RIVETER by Jack Wang, read by Feodor Chin

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Set in Canada and the European theater during World War Two, this moving debut from Jack Wang tells the story of Josiah Chang, a Canadian logger and riveter of Chinese ancestry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Feodor Chin’s precise and clear narration. The novel details Chang’s challenges and unveils a love story with Poppy, whom he meets when he and she both work at a Vancouver shipyard. This is a wartime novel (Josiah is a heroic paratrooper), a love story (Josiah and Poppy flout convention) and an indictment of restrictive laws on race. Meticulously researched and well written.

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PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae, Kevin R. Free

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

"The fate of continents is written in water," this audiobook professes, and the vital role of the ocean is at the heart of this expansive listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Richard Powers’s new audiobook, narrated by a full cast. At the start, the narrators' words flow forth, immersing the listener in four central characters and the minute details that comprise their respective worlds. Sections lack titles or labels, so the distinct voice of each narrator is key to distinguishing which story is which. All six narrators' performances are equally deft; in fact, there is a consistency in pace and tone that makes this complex story accessible.

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GRANDDAUGHTER by Bernhard Schlink, Charlotte Collins [Trans.], read by Richard Burnip, Sarah Moule

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an exceptional audiobook from Bernhard Schlink. Both Richard Burnip and Sarah Moule are fine narrators who perform with an impeccable tempo, pace, and cadence. The mysterious plot concerns a Berlin bookseller, Kaspar, who engineered his wife Birgit’s escape from East Germany 40 years earlier. After her death, Kaspar finds her memoir, which reveals she had given birth to a daughter. His relationship with his ultra-nationalist granddaughter occupies much of the second half of the story. Schlink masterfully reveals the complexity of a reunified Germany.

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MY GOOD BRIGHT WOLF by Sarah Moss, read by Morven Christie

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a captivating memoir by English writer and academic Sarah Moss, performed by Morven Christie. From an early age, society taught Moss that girls are to be restrained, smart but not too smart, and at home, she learned a girl must stay thin above all else. Moss’s memoir follows her life as she pushes back against the patriarchal structures that threaten to confine her. Christie’s performance perfectly captures Moss’s narrative voice, creating a quiet intimacy. As Moss battles with an eating disorder, Christie’s narration develops layers of emotional depth and keeps listeners enraptured.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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BLACK IN BLUES by Imani Perry, read by Imani Perry

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

National Book Award winner Imani Perry contemplates the connection between the color blue and African and African American history and culture. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Perry’s narration of her audiobook. From the traditional practice of dying indigo cloth in West Africa to the blues musical tradition in America, Perry posits that Black life has always been entangled with the color blue. She performs her stunning narration in a soft, rhythmic voice, drawing listeners into her riveting examination of the color blue in all its forms. The depth of Perry’s research and her love of the topic shine through her performance, creating a truly beautiful listening experience.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by Adrienne Young, read by Christine Lakin

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Christine Lakin performs Adrienne Young’s atmospheric mystery novel set in a small town in Northern California. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story full of twists and turns. When James receives a call that her twin brother Johnny has unexpectedly died, she travels back to her tiny hometown to take care of his affairs. But when she arrives, James begins to suspect that Johnny’s death may not have been an accident. As James investigates her brother’s death and the tension rises, Lakin’s performance matches the tense tone of the story. Lakin’s narration keeps listeners’ attention until the very end.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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PRIVATE RITES by Julia Armfield, read by Hannah van der Westhuysen

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Hannah van der Westhuysen gives a quiet, melancholic performance of this contemplative, grief-filled reimagining of KING LEAR. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Julia Armfield’s story set in a vague future of drowned cities and constant rain. The story revolves around three queer sisters after the death of their famous father, an architect. Van der Westhuysen captures the meandering, watery quality of the novel with their soft, almost musical narration. A sad and beautiful listen; Armfield fans will not be disappointed.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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WE DO NOT PART by Han Kang, E. Yaewon, Paige Aniyah Morris [Trans.], read by Greta Jung

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Nobel Prize winner Han Kang’s latest novel, a haunting story focused on the friendship of two women. Greta Jung performs the story of Kyungha, who receives an urgent request from her friend, Inseon, to come see her at a hospital in Seoul. Inseon asks Kyungha to care for her bird, Ama, at her home on Jeju Island, and Kyungha arrives just as a snowstorm consumes the island. Jung’s wistful narration evokes the dreamlike prose and wintery atmosphere as Kyungha trudges through the snow, trying to reach Ama. As the plot unfolds, Jung’s pacing is impeccable, and she maintains the mysterious tension of the story until its rapturous conclusion.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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LIFE HACKS FOR A LITTLE ALIEN by Alice Franklin, read by Sally Phillips

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Sally Phillips’s heartfelt performance of Alice Franklin’s novel has perfect pacing and inflection. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a story of a young girl who believes she is an alien. From Little Alien's first attempt at language, listeners sense something extraordinary about her. The story’s narrator, an analytical linguist, breaks down Little Alien's sentences with empathy, while Phillips’s detached tone and well-timed pauses emphasize the complexities of English and the narrator’s snarky undertones. Phillips’s mastery of cadence deepens the emotional connection to Little Alien, making her journey relatable and poignant.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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NO ONE GETS TO FALL APART by Sarah LaBrie, read by Sarah LaBrie

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Sarah LaBrie, a successful television writer based in Los Angeles, narrates her gripping memoir of family trauma in a calm, sweet voice that keeps listeners engaged. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this deeply personal memoir that explores mental health and self-acceptance. Throughout LaBrie’s childhood her mother ricocheted from one psychiatric episode to another, terrifying and caring ineptly for the girl. With hard work and luck, LaBrie made it to an Ivy League college. There, a Black woman in a predominantly white school, she encountered new challenges. When, at last, her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, LaBrie began to explore the family’s history of mental illness and her own survival. A harrowing and engrossing listen.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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HAVOC by Christopher Bollen, read by Maggi-Meg Reed

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Maggi-Meg Reed shines in Christopher Bollen’s psychological thriller pitting an octogenarian against an 8-year-old boy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story full of dark humor, plot twists, and increasing suspense. Set during Covid at the Royal Karnak Hotel on the banks of the Nile, the story features 81-year-old Maggie Burkhardt, a meddler who gets involved in fixing people's lives—even when she shouldn't. Reed does a remarkable job of transitioning between Maggie's role as narrator and her interactions with others, making for engrossing listening.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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CHER by Cher, read by Cher, Stephanie J. Block

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Oscar-winning actor, respected singer, and self-declared icon whose comebacks and reinventions have had their own comebacks and reinventions, Cher offers the first volume of her memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this memoir narrated both by Cher and by actor and friend Stephanie J. Block, who portrayed Cher in a Broadway musical biography. Both narrators are charming, effective, and pleasing to the ear. The work is intimate and revealing while sparing listeners gossipy details.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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KNIFE SKILLS FOR BEGINNERS by Orlando Murrin, read by Sebastian Humphreys

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Sebastian Humphreys delivers an enthusiastic performance of a delightful cast of characters in Orlando Murrin’s new mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this British mystery with a foodie bent. Chef Paul Delamare steps in as a culinary teacher to help his injured friend, celebrity chef Christian Wagner, and finds himself in the middle of a kitchen disaster. Humphreys’s warm, pleasant voice and English accent pair perfectly with Paul’s empathetic personality. When Christian is found brutally murdered, Paul and his students are natural suspects, and Paul must use his expertise and observation skills to find the real culprit

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Recorded Books.

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DEATH AT THE SANATORIUM by Ragnar Jónasson, read by Sam Woolf

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Sam Woolf creates a foreboding atmosphere in this disturbing mystery with strong Christie vibes. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this newest story from Ragnar Jónasson set in Iceland in 1952, 1983, and 2012. Listeners enter a tuberculosis sanatorium repurposed from the 1940-50s and meet likable Helgi, who is reopening an investigation into earlier unsolved murders. Woolf maintains a consistent atmosphere of dread while flawlessly segueing from ordinary to terrifying situations. Audio is ideal for the slowly unfolding police procedural and its abrupt, disturbing conclusion.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE STOLEN QUEEN by Fiona Davis, read by Linda Jones

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a new historical audiobook from Fiona Davis. Charlotte Cross is an assistant curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 1978. Charlotte is quietly conducting Egyptology research that harkens back to her devastating experience in Egypt in 1936. Linda Jones’s excellent narration reflects Charlotte’s ambivalence: She’s determined to prove her controversial theory about an Egyptian ruler but fearful of returning to Cairo. When an artifact is stolen, Charlotte and her young student Annie must travel to Egypt to pursue the thief and prove Charlotte’s hypothesis.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE ISLANDERS by Lewis Robinson, read by Evan Sibley

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this compelling coming-of-age novel set on a Maine island. Evan Sibley performs Lewis Robinson’s audiobook with narrative drive, a convincing tone, and a sure sense of the unfolding drama. The setting is a posh but remote club on fictional Whaleback Island—just the place to retrain young misfits to work hard on land and sea to please the billionaires who have founded this Outward-Bound-style experience to fight against the “soft” youths of today. Skillfully written and performed.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Vibrance Press.

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PACHINKO by Min Jin Lee, read by Sandra Oh, Min Jin Lee [Note]

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

When executed as beautifully as this one, multigenerational novels are all consuming in the best way. Sandra Oh's performance of Min Jin Lee’s audiobook makes the experience even more immersive. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story of young Sunja, who is saved from ruin and moves from Korea to Japan. Thus a family tale begins and proceeds through four generations in the early 20th century. Oh is an outstanding narrator. Her pace is brisk yet easy to follow, and her crisp enunciation and gentle tone are a pleasure to hear. PACHINKO is a visit to another place and time, and Oh is an exceptional guide.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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BLUES IN STEREO by Langston Hughes, Danez Smith [Ed.], read by Danez Smith

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Danez Smith, a poet, performance artist, and devotee of Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes presents a selection of Hughes’s early poems, songs, and other writings, created from 1921 to 1927. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this collection and Smith’s extraordinary performance. With their clear baritone voice and extraordinary vocal talent, Smith’s performance is beautiful to hear and unfailingly connected to the core messages within these poems, journal entries, and other works. Performed with stunning authenticity and verve, this audiobook is a showcase for the artistry of Danez Smith, as well as a revelatory lesson on one of America’s greatest writers.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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YOU ARE HERE by Ada Limón [Ed.], read by Kim Ramirez

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Each American poet laureate is expected to carry out at least one project, and the 24th, Ada Limón, created this anthology of poems about humans in nature. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kim Ramirez’s narration of this collection that includes a range of exemplary contemporary poets. Ramirez gives each of the 50 poems its due, acting but never overdramatizing, allowing rather than forcing the emotions to emerge. This is an exploration of our changing relationship to the natural world, and an invitation to share in it.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Tantor Media.

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THE DALLERGUT DREAM DEPARTMENT STORE by Miye Lee, Sandy Joosun Lee [Trans.], read by Shannon Tyo

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Shannon Tyo’s gentle, soothing tone proves effective and engaging as she narrates Miye Lee’s Korean bestseller, now in translation by Joosun Lee. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the whimsical story. Penny lands her dream job at the Dallergut Dream Department Store. Each floor of the store sells different types of dreams. As Penny learns about the importance of sleep and dreams from the store owner, Mr. Dallergut, she and her kooky co-workers realize what an important function the store fulfills. In a light, relaxed tone, Tyo delivers dreamy characters and an imaginative premise.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

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SORCERY AND SMALL MAGICS by Maiga Doocy, read by Ciaran Saward

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Ciaran Saward gives an appealing narration of Maiga Doocy’s fantasy. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about the fun of this magical adventure. Leo, a rakish scriver from a privileged gentry family, and Sebastian Grimm, a studious caster whose parents are farmers, are rivals in their fifth year at the Fount, a school of magic. After Grimm unwittingly casts a spell on Leo that compels him to do whatever Grimm says, they eventually decide to enter the Unquiet Wood, full of monstrous plants and animals, in search of a counterspell. Saward’s characterization of the mysterious sorcerer they encounter there is a delight.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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WATER MOON by Samantha Sotto Yambao, read by Cindy Kay

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Cindy Kay sweeps listeners away into Samantha Sotto Yambao’s memorable and otherworldly story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss an audiobook full of magic and adventure. On the day Hana is due to inherit her family’s pawn shop, where people from our world can trade away their greatest choices and regrets, she wakes to find it ransacked, her father missing—and one of their precious choices gone. Kay’s narration balances this story that alternates between dreamy and thrilling, carrying listeners on a great adventure. Hana seeks out her father alongside Kei, a scientist, who discovers that Hana’s world is full of beautiful magic and mystery but there’s grave danger, too.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE SPELLSHOP by Sarah Beth Durst, read by Caitlin Davies

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Caitlin Davies performs Sarah Beth Durst’s enchanting fantasy story about a reclusive librarian finding her way home. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to this magical audiobook. Academic librarian Kiela has lived in the Great Library of Alyssium for years, caring for the Empire’s spellbooks with only a sentient spider plant named Caz for company. When the fires of the Revolution reach the library, they escape by sea to her secluded childhood home with a few crates of precious books. Could she use their magical knowledge to aid the struggling islanders without risking her safety? And why are they all so friendly?? Davies uses a prim yet empathetic narration that suits the introverted librarian and brings the colorful cast of characters to life for listeners.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE 2024 by S.A. Cosby, Steph Cha [Eds.], read by Stacy Gonzalez, Bill Andrew Quinn, John Pirhalla, Jane Oppenheimer, Nicole Lewis

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this anthology that presents widely varied mystery and suspense tales. They are quite well read and will hold the attention of mystery lovers and curious listeners. Jane Oppenheimer’s intimate and expressive narration of Abby Geni’s “The Body Farm” tells a story of justifiable homicide. Nicole Lewis captures the multiple voices, quick pulse, and meta quality of Alyssa Cole’s “Just a Girl”, while John Pirhalla performs Nate Kolakowski’s “Scorpions,” an ironic story, with verve and subtlety.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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LETTERS by Oliver Sacks, Kate Edgar [Ed.], read by James Langton, Kate Edgar

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Sacks was a prodigious researcher, tireless clinician, voracious reader, competitive weight lifter, indefatigable traveler, influential neurologist, and long-winded correspondent. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss James Langton’s narration of Sacks’s letters, through which he seems to inhabit the great man’s extraordinary mind. These revealing and erudite letters testify to Sacks's appetite for study, need to communicate, and insatiable yearning to solve problems.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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A THOUSAND FEASTS by Nigel Slater, read by Nigel Slater

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

British food writer, television personality, and memoirist Nigel Slater writes stylishly, and his fine performance is a happy surprise for listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this packed text with short chronicles of Slater’s experiences dining, cooking, traveling, and reporting from countries ranging from Lebanon to Iceland. But it may be his more homespun revelations of his own London home and interactions with the craftspeople who have created his plates and pots, wooden spoons, and cookware—along with his handmade paper and unusual inks—that remain with the listener.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Fourth Estate.

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SLOUCHING TOWARDS BETHLEHEM by Joan Didion, read by Maya Hawke

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Maya Hawke performs Joan Didion’s classic collection superbly. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Hawke pays attention to Didion’s exquisite prose and captures her careful observations. Hawke gets Didion’s measured pace and thoughtful tone just right as she conveys the much-admired author’s idiosyncratic, elegant language. The audiobook vividly brings back the 1960s, when Didion, Tom Wolfe, and Hunter S. Thompson created "new journalism."

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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HELD by Anne Michaels, read by Anne Michaels

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an exquisite novel on audio from celebrated Canadian poet and novelist Anne Michaels. Her novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize, looks at love, loss, and human connection. Michaels’s intimate delivery and empathetic tone serve her bittersweet and elegiac text well. Starting in 1917 with a battlefield explosion, her exploration of characters during troubled times spans a century and ends in the near future. This extraordinary novel plumbs the heart through vignettes of a photographer, a doctor, and a journalist in troubled places. It is a mesmerizing listen.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE ANTI-ABLEIST MANIFESTO by Tiffany Yu, read by Tiffany Yu

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Tiffany Yu invites listeners to join her in advocating for a more accessible society for disabled people. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook from the founder of Diversability, an organization dedicated to disability advocacy. Using a combination of personal experience and research, Yu examines topics like language, microaggressions, and the importance of creating more inclusive events. Yu’s performance matches the tone of her prose well. Her voice is often warm, inviting, kind, and resolute.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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HOW TO TELL WHEN WE WILL DIE by Johanna Hedva, read by Johanna Hedva

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss disability rights advocate Johanna Hedva’s essay collection, 10 years in the making. Hedva’s observations about society are sharp and insightful. Disability sits at the core of their writing, and they challenge listeners to see it as a social experience, in addition to a biological one. Hedva’s performance, personable and intimate, makes the listener feel as if they are sitting at a live author event.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hillman Grad Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/

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THE RESTAURANT OF LOST RECIPES by Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood [Trans.], read by Hanako Footman

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a delicious story set in Japan. Hanako Footman performs this feel-good novel about Chef Negare and his daughter, Kioshi, who run the Kamogawa Diner in Kyoto. Together, they are the Kamogawa Food Detectives, who track down lost recipes from their clients’ pasts. Footman’s narration captures the cozy atmosphere and heartwarming tone of the novel as the father-daughter duo go to great lengths to re-create the lost dishes.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/

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THE VOYAGE HOME by Pat Barker, read by Kristin Atherton

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Kristin Atherton delivers a powerhouse performance of the final volume in Booker Prize novelist Pat Barker’s trilogy reimagining the Trojan War from a female perspective. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of Ritsa, a Trojan healer who is enslaved to Cassandra, who is herself the slave-concubine of King Agamemnon. The war is over, the seas perilous, egos fragile, prophesies unkind, and in Mycenae Clytemnestra plots revenge. Atherton, who won Earphones Awards for the previous books, again demonstrates exquisite timing that reinforces the drama.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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COMPOUND FRACTURE by Andrew Joseph White, read by Dani Martineck

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss an Appalachian horror story set in West Virginia. Dani Martineck performs as Miles Abernathy, who is sixteen and has just come out to his parents when a group of boys attack him and land him in the hospital. The Abernathys have been in a blood feud for over a century, but Miles believes he finally has a way to end it once and for all. Martineck’s narration makes Miles come alive in a new way, adding emotional depth to an already complex character.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Listening Library

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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THERE’S ALWAYS THIS YEAR: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting our conversation about Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest audiobook, THERE’S ALWAYS THIS YEAR. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Abdurraqib’s mesmerizing narration and rich writing. You can hear the love in his voice as he performs his ode to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; a love letter to basketball; a meditation on home and belonging; and an exploration of faith, Blackness, music, and place. Listen to learn more about this transcendent audiobook, named one of AudioFile’s Best Nonfiction audiobooks of 2024.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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BITS AND PIECES: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode, we revisit host Jo Reed’s conversation with AudioFile’s Michele Cobb about Whoopi Goldberg’s BITS AND PIECES. It’s what Michele calls an “audio must,” as Goldberg’s raspy timbre and amused tone make her the only person appropriate to narrate her memoir. Listen to learn more about one of AudioFile’s picks for Best Memoir and Biography Audiobooks of 2024. And for even more insights into the story, watch Michele’s conversation with Whoopi on AudioFile’s website.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Blackstone Audio

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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OLIVETTI: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is celebrating our 2024 Best Audiobooks by sharing conversations about the year’s best listening. Today’s episode features host Jo Reed’s conversation with AudioFile’s Robin Whitten about the joy of OLIVETTI, written by Allie Millington, and read by Christopher Gebauer and Simon Vance. This unusual listen is one of the Best Children’s and Family listening of 2024. It’s a charming story about Olivetti, a typewriter spilling his tapestry of tales in order to find his missing owner, and angsty 12-year-old Ernest, who must trust this typewriter to help him find his mother.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Recorded Books.

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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A NEST OF VIPERS: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Today’s episode revisits host Jo Reed’s conversation with AudioFile’s Robin Whitten exploring Harini Nagendra’s A NEST OF VIPERS, one of AudioFile’s 2024 Best Mystery Audiobooks. Golden Voice Soneela Nankani immerses listeners in this third installment of the Bangalore Detectives Club series, set in 1920s India. It’s a story rife with intrigue, politics, and the fight for autonomy. Nankani’s brisk, distinctly voiced performance is riveting as she expertly distinguishes among the large cast of characters.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Tantor Media.

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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JAMES: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

This week, we’re sharing some of our conversations about audiobooks on our 2024 Best Audiobooks list. Today’s episode features host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discussing JAMES by Percival Everett and read by Golden Voice narrator Dominic Hoffman. JAMES won the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction, and Hoffman’s captivating narration earned it a spot on AudioFile’s list of Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2024. Listen in to Jo and Kendra’s conversation to learn more about this fascinating audiobook. For a deeper dive into Dominic’s narration, don’t miss Jo’s interview with him here on our podcast.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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AudioFile Gift Guide: KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed is joined today by AudioFile contributor Caitlin Augusta, who has shared her insights on romance audiobooks in her Tease column and audiobook reviews for years. Today she talks about gifting KISS ME AT CHRISTMAS, Jenny Bayliss’s story full of Christmas magic, narrated by Caroline Fantozzi. It’s centered around an underdog production of A Christmas Carol, with school counselor Harriet Smith fighting her Christmas blues by diligently caring for five at-risk teens. Fantozzi’s performance evokes a sense of wonder and joy, warming even the Scroogiest listener’s heart—and just might make a perfect audiobook gift.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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AudioFile Gift Guide: A DEATH IN CORNWALL

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Ellen Quint discuss the fun of gifting mysterious listens during the holidays. Ellen’s been writing about mystery audiobooks for AudioFile for years, and we’re delighted to have her on to discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s narration of A DEATH IN CORNWALL. Daniel Silva’s latest starts in Venice, where Gabriel Allon and his wife get a call to investigate a death in Cornwall, England. Ellen talks about Silva’s compelling spy thrillers and her love for Ballerini’s narration on this series that takes listeners racing around Europe.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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AudioFile Gift Guide: Yoto Player

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed talk about the fun of giving gifts to young audiobook listeners. This holiday season, Robin recommends the Yoto Player, a portable screen-free audiobook player that her grandchildren have been carrying all around the house to hear their favorite stories. The player lets the kids choose their own stories to listen to, all without a screen or getting parents’ phones involved. Her grandkids have enjoyed classics like FROG AND TOAD and THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, and tales from favorite Disney movies. It’s a great gift for any kids (or their parents) curious about kids’ audiobooks.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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Hope Newhouse Interview: Best Children’s & Family Audiobooks 2024

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Hope Newhouse joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell AudioFile listeners about performing Lois Lowry’s newest audiobook, TREE. TABLE. BOOK., one of our picks for Best Children’s and Family listening. Hope tells Michele about what it was like to take on the narration of one of Lois Lowry’s audiobooks, given her status as a beloved children’s book author. She also explains why she enjoys narrating audiobooks for young listeners, and what’s stayed with her about this moving audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/251030/

Published by Harper Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Children’s & Family Listening are:

THE BEAUTIFUL GAME by Yamile Saied Méndez, read by Maria Liatis

BRIDGES INSTEAD OF WALLS by Mavis Staples, Carole Boston Weatherford, read by Mavis Staples, Adenrele Ojo

FREE PERIOD by Ali Terese, read by Josephine Huang, Cassandra Morris

IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES by Katherine Rundell, read by Samuel West

OLIVETTI by Allie Millington, read by Christopher Gebauer, Simon Vance

TREE. TABLE. BOOK. by Lois Lowry, read by Hope Newhouse

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website: https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/best-audiobooks-2024/

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Hope Newhouse photo by Jessica Wolpman.

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Alejandro Antonio Ruiz Interview: Best Young Adult Audiobooks 2024

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Alejandro Antonio Ruiz joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners all about narrating CANTO CONTIGO by Jonny Garza Villa, one of AudioFile’s picks for Best YA Audiobooks of 2024. It’s a vibrant audiobook full of emotions, and Alejandro tells us about how they bring all of the tension and rich feelings to life for listeners. They also explain the joys and challenges of narrating audiobooks for a teen audience.

Read AudioFile’s review of CANTO CONTIGO. Published by Macmillan Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Young Adult Audiobooks are:

CANTO CONTIGO by Jonny Garza Villa, read by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz

A CRANE AMONG WOLVES by June Hur, read by Greg Chun, Michelle H. Lee

HOW THE BOOGEYMAN BECAME A POET by Tony Keith, Jr., read by Tony Keith, Jr.

JUPITER RISING by Gary D. Schmidt, read by Christopher Gebauer

TWENTY-FOUR SECONDS FROM NOW... by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard

WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER by Jandy Nelson, read by Michael Crouch, Alex McKenna, Briggon Snow, Caitlin Kinnunen, Julia Whelan

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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Elizabeth Knowelden Interview: Best Romance Audiobooks 2024

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Elizabeth Knowelden joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss one of this year’s Best Romance Audiobooks, THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE by India Holton. Elizabeth tells Michele about what’s most interesting and fun to her about romance audiobooks. She gives a charming performance of the audiobook, and in her interview, she explains how she created the voices for the many characters listeners will encounter in the story.

Read AudioFile’s review of THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE. Published by Penguin Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Romance Audiobooks are:

AVENGING ANGEL by Kristen Ashley, read by Stella Bloom

THE BREAK-UP PACT by Emma Lord, read by Natalie Naudus

JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez, read by Christine Lakin, Zachary Webber

LOVE AT FIRST BOOK by Jenn McKinlay, read by Brittany Pressley

THE ORNITHOLOGIST'S FIELD GUIDE TO LOVE by India Holton, read by Elizabeth Knowelden

THE PAIRING by Casey McQuiston, read by Emma Galvin, Max Meyers

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Elizabeth Knowelden photo by Dana Patrick.

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Edoardo Ballerini Interview: Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks 2024

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss narrating one of this year’s best in Mulit-Voice audiobooks, the oral history WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE, edited by Garrett M. Graff. Edoardo tells listeners about the challenges of narrating audiobooks that include so many voices—here, there were 26 narrators performing 700 real-life historical figures. It’s an impressive and moving listen, and deep exploration into those who participated in D-Day.

Read AudioFile’s review of WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Multi-Voice Audiobooks are:

DANGEROUS VISIONS by Harlan Ellison [Ed.], read by Mara Wilson, Jim Meskimen, Simon Vance, Steven Jay Cohen, Johnny Heller, Edoardo Ballerini, Dion Graham, et al.

GEORGE ORWELL'S 1984 by George Orwell, Joe White [Adapt.], read by Andrew Garfield, Cynthia Erivo, Andrew Scott, Tom Hardy, Chukwudi Iwuji, Romesh Ranganathan, Natasia Demetriou, Francesca Mills, Alex Lawther, Katie Leung

HOW WOMEN MADE MUSIC by Alison Fensterstock [Ed.], Ann Powers [Intro.], National Public Radio, read by Alison Fensterstock, Ann Powers, et al.

JOURNEY'S END by R.C. Sherriff, read by James Callis, Josh Cole, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Tobias Echeverria, Adam Godley, Ian Ogilvy, Darren Richardson, Simon Templeman, Matthew Wolf

MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs, read by Khaya Fraites, Gregory Linington, Christopher McLinden, Rayner Gabriel, Chris Stinson, Renee Dorian, and a Full Cast

WHEN THE SEA CAME ALIVE by Garrett M. Graff [Ed.], read by Edoardo Ballerini, Garrett M. Graff [Note], and a Full Cast

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Edoardo Ballerini photo by Ed Brantley.

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Moira Quirk Interview: Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks 2024

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Moira Quirk joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss a fantastical dark academia tale by M.L. Wang, BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN. Moira tells listeners about what she enjoys the most about narrating science fiction and fantasy audiobooks, and the particular challenges she encounters while narrating the genre. BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN not only explores the realm of dark academia, but also examines the ripple effects of colonization, and it makes for an engrossing listen.

Read AudioFile’s review of BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN. Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks are:

BLOOD OVER BRIGHT HAVEN by M.L. Wang, read by Moira Quirk

THE CRONE OF MIDNIGHT EMBERS by Iris Beaglehole, read by Bethan Dixon Bate

THE MERCY OF GODS by James S.A. Corey, read by Jefferson Mays

THE STARS TOO FONDLY by Emily Hamilton, read by Vico Ortiz

THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS by Katherine Arden, read by Michael Crouch, January LaVoy, Katherine Arden

WHEN AMONG CROWS by Veronica Roth, read by Helen Laser, James Fouhey, Tim Campbell

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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Jean Brassard Interview: Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks 2024

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Jean Brassard joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss narrating Louise Penny’s latest in the Three Pines series, THE GREY WOLF. It’s a thrilling mystery and a new voice for a beloved series, and Brassard describes what it was like to step into the shoes of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. He discusses how his Quebecois background informed his performance and what he enjoyed the most about narrating this mystery named one of AudioFile’s Best of 2024.

Read AudioFile’s review of THE GREY WOLF. Published by Macmillan Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks are:

THE BRIAR CLUB by Kate Quinn, read by Saskia Maarleveld

THE GREY WOLF by Louise Penny, read by Jean Brassard

A NEST OF VIPERS by Harini Nagendra, read by Soneela Nankani

THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz, read by Julia Whelan

SHANGHAI by Joseph Kanon, read by Jonathan Davis

YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME by Allison Brennan, read by Hillary Huber

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Jean Brassard photo by Steve Vaccariello.

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Gabra Zackman Interview: Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks 2024

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Gabra Zackman joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss her narration of CUE THE SUN! The Invention of Reality TV by Emily Nussbaum. It’s one of our picks for Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks this year, and it takes listeners on a deep exploration of reality TV. Gabra tells Michele about how this audiobook may have changed her view of reality TV, and what surprised her about performing this audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of CUE THE SUN! Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks are:

CUE THE SUN! by Emily Nussbaum, read by Gabra Zackman

THE MESSAGE by Ta-Nehisi Coates, read by Ta-Nehisi Coates

OUR HIDDEN CONVERSATIONS by Michele Norris, read by Michele Norris and a Full Cast

A POETRY HANDBOOK by Mary Oliver, read by Kimberly Farr

THERE'S ALWAYS THIS YEAR by Hanif Abdurraqib, read by Hanif Abdurraqib

WHAT'S NEXT IS NOW by Frederik G. Pferdt, read by Sean Pratt

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Gabra Zackman photo by Ashley Garrett.

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Dion Graham Interview: Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks 2024

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss his performance of James Kaplan’s biography of jazz greats, 3 SHADES OF BLUE. The audiobook traces the lives of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Bill Evans, and required some research before recording. Listen to Dion’s discussion with Michele for more insights into his narration of this exceptional audiobook that’s one of AudioFile’s Best Biography & Memoir titles of 2024.

Read AudioFile’s review of THREE SHADES OF BLUE. Published by Penguin Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks are:

BITS AND PIECES by Whoopi Goldberg, read by Whoopi Goldberg

BITTER CROP by Paul Alexander, read by Maya Days

JOHN LEWIS by David Greenberg, read by David Sadzin

PROFILES IN MENTAL HEALTH COURAGE by Patrick J. Kennedy, Stephen Fried, read by Johnny Heller, Patrick J. Kennedy

3 SHADES OF BLUE by James Kaplan, read by Dion Graham

WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR by Stanley Tucci, read by Stanley Tucci

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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Julia Whelan Interview: Best Fiction Audiobooks 2024

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners about narrating Kristin Hannah’s memorable historical fiction audiobook, THE WOMEN, one of our picks for Best Fiction of 2024. It’s an emotional story about Vietnam War combat nurses, and Julia details how she prepared for performing this intense listen. Julia has narrated several of Hannah’s audiobooks, and she explains what she likes about getting to narrate multiple works by the same author, and what’s stayed with her about this audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of THE WOMEN. Published by Macmillan Audio.

AudioFile’s 2024 Best Fiction Audiobooks are:

THE CEMETERY OF UNTOLD STORIES by Julia Alvarez, read by Alma Cuervo

COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis

HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty, read by Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill

JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman

THE LIMITS by Nell Freudenberger, read by Rebecca Lowman

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah

Find the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Julia Whelan photo by Kelly Puleio.

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AudioFile’s 2024 Best Audiobooks!

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to discuss AudioFile’s 2024 Best Audiobooks. Listen to their conversation to discover how AudioFile’s editors choose the year’s best audiobooks, which titles Robin is particularly excited about, and to hear all the details on our upcoming interviews with narrators of some of this year’s honored titles.

Explore the full list of 2024 Best Audiobooks on our website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

Tony Keith Jr. photo by Randolph Garrett, Hope Newhouse photo by Jessica Wolpman, Dion Graham and Julia Whelan photos courtesy of the narrators.

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AudioFile Gift Guide: HOLIDAYS ON ICE

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and Laura Rossi, AudioFile’s Director of Publicity and Social Media, talk all things holiday gifting on today’s episode of Behind the Mic. Laura recommends a favorite audiobook to give to friends and family this time of year, HOLIDAYS ON ICE, written and read by David Sedaris, with a little help from Amy Sedaris and Ann Magnuson. This is where you’ll find the hilarious “SantaLand Diaries,” among other essays. Laura talks about what she loves about the audiobook, and what listeners can expect from the raucous collection.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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AudioFile Gift Guide: SMITTEN KITCHEN KEEPERS

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Managing Editor, Jenn Dowell, joins host Jo Reed on our podcast to talk about a favorite gift of hers for the holiday season — SMITTEN KITCHEN KEEPERS, written and read by Deb Perelman. Deb is well known in the food world for her long-time blog Smitten Kitchen, and her accessible cookbooks, both packed full of recipes. Now, she has an audio adaptation of her newest cookbook, giving listeners a chance to learn more about the recipes and spend time with Deb’s friendly voice in your ear. Jenn shares a bit about her interview with Deb for a recent issue of AudioFile Magazine, and tells listeners about gifting this great cookbook and audiobook pairing.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Read Jenn’s interview with Deb Perelman in the December/January issue of AudioFile magazine.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at https://www.brilliancepublishing.com/

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CRYPTOMANIA by Andrew R. Chow, read by Eric Yang

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Andrew R Chow’s account of the spectacular rise and fall of FTX's cryptocurrency wunderkind, Sam Bankman-Fried. Eric Yang narrates with a reporter’s detachment, allowing the facts to speak for themselves. And speak they do! While Yang uses a measured tone, avoiding sensationalism, the facts detailing SBF's shocking hubris and willingness to risk the funds of others will appall listeners. Even listeners with no interest in crypto will be transfixed by the greed and lies that transformed an altruistic endeavor into a con that duped millions and cost billions.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten, read by Ina Garten

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Ina Garten narrates her memoir with the same precision, charm, poise, and irreverence exhibited on her “Barefoot Contessa” television productions. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss an audiobook that would make a great companion for anyone cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Garten’s philosophy has been to make quick decisions and “dive in”—figuring it all out later. Garten’s narration is measured, personal, and absorbing. This is a memoir not to miss if you enjoy Ina Garten, food, and restaurants—or if you simply want to be ready to apply your special talents when the luck happens to you.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak, read by John Pirhalla

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

John Pirhalla portrays an everyday guy named Frank whose life is turned upside down when his estranged daughter gets in touch to announce her wedding to Aidan, the son of a tech billionaire. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this twisty thriller from Jason Rekulak. When Frank mysteriously receives a photo of Aidan with a missing girl, he decides to investigate to ensure the safety of his daughter. Pirhalla’s strong characterizations are carefully crafted; listeners will enjoy having their perceptions change with each twist of the plot. Pirhalla’s spot-on timing helps keep listeners engaged.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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THE SEQUEL by Jean Hanff Korelitz, read by Julia Whelan

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Fans of Jean Hanff Korelitz’s THE PLOT will rejoice at this sequel, performed with mesmerizing skill by the wonderful Julia Whelan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a lethally dislikable character, Anna, and how Whelan narrates this twisty tale. Anna is a monster of ego, incapable of sympathy for anyone but herself. She is also brilliant, fearless, and like most psychopaths, contemptuous of others. This causes her to underestimate them, which leads to potentially fatal mistakes. Whelan’s achievement here seems like a little miracle, relentlessly compelling and wonderfully satisfying.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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RUN by Blake Crouch, read by Scott Brick

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Scott Brick can be relied upon to deliver intensity in every audiobook he narrates, but he outdoes himself in this story of a family on the run in a world gone mad. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Blake Crouch’s audiobook that truly had Michele on the edge of her seat. Jack doesn’t know why Americans started killing one another in a pointless frenzy of rage, but it's up to him to keep his family safe. Brick's frantic performance forces listeners to empathize with the desperate Jack as he narrowly escapes the killers. It’s an intense and graphic listen but one you won’t be able to put down.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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ONLY SANTAS IN THE BUILDING by Alexis Daria, read by Ruby Corazon

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Ruby Corazon brings festive cheer to Alexis Daria’s sweet and spicy holiday novella. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the fun of cozying up with a holiday romance audiobook. Evie Cruz is a comic illustrator on a tight deadline, and she’s barely unpacked into her new apartment. Corazon’s voice echoes Evie’s stress, but she brightens up as Evie discovers anonymous Christmas ornament gifts on her door—and gets delightedly flustered at any signs of her hot neighbor, Theo. When they encounter each other at their building’s Santa-themed party, sparks fly. A delicious holiday treat.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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ROUGH PAGES by Lev AC Rosen, read by Vikas Adam

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this latest installment in Lev AC Rosen’s historical mystery series set in 1950s San Francisco, narrated by Vikas Adam. Evander Mills finally has a boyfriend, a safe apartment above a queer bar, and steady work as a PI. But a missing gay bookstore owner threatens the fragile peace of his life, and his closest friends. Adam’s narration is as pitch-perfect as ever, voicing Andy with a blend of gruff heroism and vulnerable longing that perfectly captures his complex character. A thoroughly engaging next chapter in the Evander Mills mystery series.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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BEST HEX EVER by Nadia El-Fassi, read by Ferne Marks, Owen Hall

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Ferne Markes and Owen Hall make a perfect pair performing the electric chemistry between a kitchen witch and the charming man who catches her eye. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this delicious romance from Nadia El-Fassi that’s best enjoyed alongside a cup of chai. Ever since Scott Mason stumbled into Serendipity Cafe in London, he’s had the barista on his mind. Dina Whitlock was just as smitten and is startled to discover they’re both attendants in their best friends’ countryside wedding! Marks narrates with passion, performing Dina’s warring attraction and fear that an ex’s hex spells danger for Scott, while Hall conveys Scott’s intense longing for Dina. A cozy, bewitching romance.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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ALL THIS AND MORE by Peng Shepherd, read by Helen Laser

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Helen Laser gives an extraordinary performance of Peng Shepherd’s inventive story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this interactive adventure story that takes listeners deep into the life of Marsh—and shows just how drastically things can change. When 40-year-old Marsh is selected to star in a reality TV show, she is given the opportunity to redo her life through "quantum bubble" technology. Listeners get to choose Marsh’s path, jumping through the story down many diverging paths. Laser shifts tone, timbre, and accents to portray a huge cast, including online commentators and the show’s bubbly host, Talia.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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SMITTEN KITCHEN KEEPERS by Deb Perelman, read by Deb Perelman

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Anyone who likes to cook will be inspired to get into the kitchen after listening to this audio program. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Deb Perelman’s audio companion to her newest cookbook, SMITTEN KITCHEN KEEPERS. Perelman is one of the original food bloggers and creator of the beloved Smitten Kitchen website, and listeners can hear her eagerness to share all she’s learned over the years. Her tips and reflections on selected recipes make for a relaxed, friendly listening experience. A perfect accompaniment for any kitchen endeavor that will have you cooking up delicious food in no time.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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DEATH AT THE SIGN OF THE ROOK by Kate Atkinson, read by Jason Isaacs

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Jason Isaacs is clearly having a rollicking good time narrating Kate Atkinson’s latest Jackson Brodie novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audiobook jammed full of Agatha Christie tropes—butlers, vicars, nobles, retired veterans, and detectives all trapped in a great house in a snowstorm—but they’re all turned on their heads. Isaacs develops a myriad of distinct accents with hugely appealing dashes of winking amusement and heart. He builds both the drama and the absurdist humor to a laugh-out-loud crescendo. An uplifting and joyful audio escape for everyone.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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FATAL INTRUSION by Jeffery Deaver, Isabella Maldonado, read by Aida Reluzco, André Santana

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

This action-packed thriller from Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado is performed with skill by André Santana and Aida Reluzco. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this fast-paced, nonstop audiobook filled with twists, turns, and well-developed characters, good and evil. The seamless narration enhances the suspense, making this an engaging listen. Fans will eagerly await the next installment in this new series.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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STORM CHILD by Michael Robotham, read by Joe Jameson

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Joe Jameson shines in this psychological thriller by Michael Robotham. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story of Cyrus Haven, a forensic psychologist, and Evie Cormac, a troubled young woman in his care. Haven and Evie find themselves getting closer to solving the mystery of Evie’s past. Jameson brings everything to life with his animated narration, elevating the story with his vivid performance. Every character, major or minor, takes on a clear personality through Jameson’s inflections, tones, and accents.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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THE GREY WOLF by Louise Penny, read by Jean Brassard

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Jean Brassard, Louise Penny’s choice to narrate her 19th Three Pines novel, proves an inspired selection. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Brassard, a native Quebecois and an award-winning actor, gets each character right. Domestic terrorism takes Armand Gamache, Jean-Guy, and Isabelle from Montreal to the Vatican and to an isolated French monastery. Brasard’s accents—whether French Canadian, Italian, or continental French—create indelible characters, and his pacing and storytelling skills are stunningly good. Listen to find out what awaits Gamache in this latest memorable mystery.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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WELCOME TO GLORIOUS TUGA by Francesca Segal, read by Kristin Atherton

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Kristin Atherton brings us to the tiny South Atlantic island of Tuga de Oro. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Francesca Segal’s story of a London vet who journeys to Tuga to study endangered tortoises, but finds out more about herself along the way. Atherton creates a delightfully engaging performance. She creates memorable voices for each character, adding depth and emotion to each, from the growling, grumpy Pastor to the new island doctor and the lovable community of Tuga that embrace her in surprising ways.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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WITH EVERY GREAT BREATH by Rick Bass, read by Rick Bass

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Rick Bass delivers these essays—old and new—at a deliberate pace and a careful tempo. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss his voice and delivery, which sound kindly and literary. Reared in Texas, Bass retains a slight twang, and he is soulful, sincere, and aspirational. A fiction writer and essayist, he is also an environmental activist, and a number of these texts center on the horrific aftermath—asbestosis and mesothelioma—of the mining that took place near his adopted home in the Yak Valley of Montana. A memorable collection.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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ACCIDENTALLY WES ANDERSON: ADVENTURES by Wally Koval, Amanda Koval, Wes Anderson [Fore.], read by Seamus McMahon, Jeff Goldblum

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

This delightful travel audiobook features commentary and an accompanying pdf of photos of unique, quirky, and splendid sites around the world that emulate renowned film director Wes Anderson’s visual style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the fun of this listen. Seamus McMahon is a capable narrator, while Jeff Goldblum’s well-tuned variations in tone and pace make for particularly irresistible listening. Travelers, architecture buffs, and the simply curious will find much to listen to and look at here.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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HEARTY by andrea bennett, read by Panta Mosleh

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Canadian producer and actress Panta Mosleh embraces these essays from author andrea bennett. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this mix of personal revelations, food prep experiments, and observations on foodways, family, and life. Mosleh narrates with a strong voice and clear tone and neatly adopts the author’s sometimes interrogative style. A poet, editor and essayist, the author tries recipes, stores seeds, experiments with various crops and methods of resisting pests in their home in British Columbia. They write well on the joys of carrots and the importance of seed saving.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by ECW Press.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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WHY I COOK by Tom Colicchio, read by Will Damron, Tom Colicchio

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, who has achieved fame for his restaurants, television shows, and five James Beard Awards, turns his considerable energy to his memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss narrator Will Damron’s talented performance of the chef’s memoir. Damron brings this food-centered story vividly to life and gets Colicchio’s voice, cadence, and sometimes hectic recollections just right. Colicchio’s story ranges from his Jersey beginnings to his early notoriety at New York’s famous Gramercy Tavern and Craft and his food-centric political causes. The author’s candor is refreshing, and his favorite recipes enliven the text.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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WHAT I ATE IN ONE YEAR by Stanley Tucci, read by Stanley Tucci

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Stanley Tucci may someday be as famous as a food writer as he is as an actor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the fun of listening to Tucci narrate his candid memoir. He plays with tone and tempo like a jazz musician, and he knows how to be ironic, self-effacing, witty, and charming, yet his performance is most satisfying because of his restraint. Tucci is a creative gourmand who is mischievous (he whispers his preparation of pigeon breasts) and masterfully ends each section with suggestions, recipes, appreciations, and observations. Since he’s an Italophile and pasta devotee, his greatest love is, of course, la cucina Italiana.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO EMBER by Danica Nava, read by Siena East

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Siena East—a Choctaw writer, comedian, and actor—performs this romance novel from debut Chickasaw author Danica Nava. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the author’s delightful storytelling and narrator’s ear for dialogue, making for an all-around enjoyable listen. After sending out countless job applications with few responses, Ember Lee Cardinal decides to exaggerate her work experience on her next application. She lands the job and meets her new co-worker, Danuwoa Colson, the only other Native person at her new office and the most handsome man she’s ever seen. East’s strong comedic timing enhances Ember and Danuwoa’s witty banter, and she captures their whirlwind workplace romance.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Max Lucado, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bob Goff, Lysa TerKeurst, and many more!

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THE EMPUSIUM by Olga Tokarczuk, Antonia Lloyd-Jones [Trans.], read by Natasha Soudek

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this new horror story from Nobel Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk. Natasha Soudek performs this story of a young Polish man suffering from tuberculosis who arrives at a health resort in the Silesian mountains in 1913. There he meets other men with similar conditions, each of whom is sure the mountain air will cure him. But when they learn about all the men who have gone missing from the resort, they fear they will meet the same mysterious fate. Soudek uses her skill to advance the suspense of the sinister happenings.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Dreamscape, an award-winning audiobook publisher with a catalog that includes authors L.J. Shen, Freida McFadden, and Annie Ernaux. For more information, visit dreamscapepublishing.com.

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MODEL HOME by Rivers Solomon, read by Gabby Beans

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Gabby Beans performs this suspenseful novel about a Black nonbinary protagonist who is haunted by the events that occurred at their childhood home. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this tale of suburban horror from Rivers Solomon. After years of living in the UK, Ezri finds themself on a plane back to the U.S. to visit their parents in their suburban home outside Dallas, Texas. There, Ezri finds their parents dead and begins trying to reconstruct their last moments.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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A SUNNY PLACE FOR SHADY PEOPLE by Mariana Enriquez, Megan McDowell [Trans.], read by Lee Osorio, Annette Amelia Oliveira, Sol Madariaga, Maria Liatis

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a new collection of stories from one of Argentina’s most beloved authors, Mariana Enriquez, translated by Megan McDowell. It’s performed by an ensemble cast, and the dark tales often feature the magical, mysterious, and bizarre. One standout includes Lee Osorio’s narration of “A Face of Disgrace,” in which Osorio’s voice is full of the protagonist’s panic and horror as her face begins to disappear. Annette Amelia Oliveira expertly performs “My Sad Dead,” capturing the protagonist’s nonchalance as she explains that she can see ghosts as they wander her neighborhood.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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BONE OF THE BONE by Sarah Smarsh, read by Sarah Smarsh

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

National Book Award finalist Sarah Smarsh performs a collection of her essays written from 2013-2024. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Smarsh’s narration captures the emotional depth of her essays. After growing up on a wheat farm in Kansas, Smarsh went on to join academia and found herself writing about her working-class childhood. Smarsh’s essays are full of sharp observations that are as relevant now as when they were first published.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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BUFFALO DREAMER by Violet Duncan, read by Ashley Callingbull

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ashley Callingbull gives a heartfelt narration of Violet Duncan’s story of a young girl who starts having strange dreams while visiting family on the Cree reservation. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this National Book Award finalist for young people’s literature. Everyone is talking about researchers discovering unmarked children’s graves at the nearby residential school.Twelve-year-old Summer is curious to learn more, but it is a painful history. Callingbull brings a youthful enthusiasm to her narration of Summer and deeper, more resonant voices for the elders who share their stories. Summer slowly realizes that her dreams of a girl’s escape from the residential schools might be more real than she first thought.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Listening Library.

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TWENTY-FOUR SECONDS FROM NOW by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Guy Lockard narrates this fresh and funny novel YA from Jason Reynolds. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss another excellent collaboration between Reynolds and Lockard. Told from the perspective of 17-year-old Neon, this novel explores moments leading backwards from Neon’s past twenty-four months. As Neon prepares to celebrate his anniversary with his girlfriend, Aria, he reflects on everything that has happened since they first met. Lockard’s deep, resonant voice is expressive and full of humor that fits Neon’s youth and the bright banter between Neon and his friends. This contemplative novel is a joyful celebration of young love.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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SWORDCROSSED by Freya Marske, read by Omari Douglas

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this delightful romance audiobook set in a fantasy world. Omari Douglas has a teasing, mischievous lilt to his narration that perfectly suits Marske’s vivid world building. Dutiful Mattinesh Jay is entering into an arranged marriage to save his family’s failing textile business. An encounter with conman and duelist Luca Pierre leads Matti to hire him as his ceremonial best man; Luca also reluctantly agrees to give Matti sword-fighting lessons. Douglas captures the sparking, zinging dynamic between Matti and Luca. The more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist each other, and the more secrets are revealed.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan.

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INTERMEZZO by Sally Rooney, read by Éanna Hardwicke

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Éanna Hardwicke's narration highlights the rich emotionality of Sally Rooney’s newest novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Hardwicke’s skill at capturing every mood—becoming desperately angry, bitter, and frantic, yet also achingly tender, patient, and loving—as he performs a story of two grieving brothers. Peter and Ivan’s father has died, leaving them unmoored and their relationship strained. Hardwicke subtly captures the shifting perspectives of each character as he performs a story full of pain, hope, and love.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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BY THE FIRE WE CARRY by Rebecca Nagle, read by Rebecca Nagle

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Nagle gives a clear and compelling narration of her look into how a small-town murder on the Muscogee Nation led to a significant 2020 Supreme Court case—and the largest restoration of Native tribal land in American history. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Nagle’s extensive research into the history behind this case, and how she contextualizes its impact on her own nation, the Cherokee, and other Oklahoma nations. An illuminating listen.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harper Audio.

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WILD WITH HAPPY by Colman Domingo, read by Colman Domingo, Alex Newell, Sharon Washington, Tyler James Williams, Oprah Winfrey

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Multitalented playwright/director/actor Colman Domingo gathered an internationally acclaimed cast to hit this spirited blend of social satire, love, responsibility, and grief out of the park. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this play that revolves around the character of Gil, an out-of-work actor played by Domingo, who returns home to face the heartbreak of burying his late mother. He receives all kinds of advice performed by a marvelous cast that makes for a delightful roller coaster of a comedy. An absolute keeper.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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THE FACULTY LOUNGE by Jennifer Mathieu, read by Lisa Flanagan

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Lisa Flanagan performs this group story of a faculty at one public high school as if she were herself an entire acting company. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this engaging adult debut from a YA author. At the beginning of the story’s school year a superannuated substitute teacher dies ingloriously on a couch in the eponymous lounge. That episode and each one following introduces more linked characters, events, complications, and unintended consequences, sometimes funny, sometimes sweet, occasionally shocking, but all absorbing and believable. Flanagan’s skill and control with her narration are a quiet marvel.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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COLORED TELEVISION by Danzy Senna, read by Kristen Ariza

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Kristen Ariza lends her expert skills to Danzy Senna’s intimate character study. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine’s Michele Cobb discuss a story of a professor and struggling writer, Jane. She moves her family near Hollywood, where she meets a producer who wants to make her book into a television show. Jane is a complex character who is often skeptical, and when she is met with the usual difficulties while navigating Hollywood, she becomes even more suspicious. A great listen for fans of contemporary fiction.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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WHEN THE WORLD TIPS OVER by Jandy Nelson, read by Michael Crouch, Alex McKenna, Briggon Snow, Caitlin Kinnunen, Julia Whelan

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how this performance by a five-narrator cast is truly special. The Fall children harness unique powers. When a magical rainbow-haired girl reveals her connection with the family, it kicks off a whirlwind of secrets that will either break them apart or further unite them. What’s more magical is the gorgeous concoction of every narrator’s style. It genuinely feels like each character is a complete story on their own, but when blended together, they create a symphony of mystery, challenges, and compelling world-building.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Listening Library.

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GUIDE ME HOME by Attica Locke, read by JD Jackson

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners join Texas Ranger Darren Mathews who, after turning in his badge, reluctantly investigates the disappearance of a young, Black student from an otherwise all-white sorority house. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story set in 2019 that concludes Attica Locke’s Highway 59 trilogy. JD Jackson’s pitch-perfect narration is the ideal match for this fast-paced story, which is seen through the eyes of a Black man who is living in Trump’s America.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Hachette Audio

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HERE ONE MOMENT by Liane Moriarty, read by Caroline Lee, Geraldine Hakewill

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a new thrilling audiobook from Liane Moriarty. Narrators Caroline Lee and Geraldine Hakewill weave the threads of this tense exploration of free will. Everyone on a delayed flight across Australia is tired and frustrated. Suddenly, a nondescript woman stands and begins pointing to fellow passengers and stating how they will die and when. She won’t remember this later—when the predictions start coming true. Lee voices Cherry, the Death Lady, with petulant sincerity, while Hakewill portrays the other passengers as they struggle to forget the predictions or change their destinies.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL by John le Carré, read by Adjoa Andoh

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Adjoa Andoh’s remarkable skills of characterization and pacing are on full display in this reissue of le Carré’s novel of espionage and manipulation in the Middle East. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story of a naïve English actress, Charlie, who agrees to work undercover for an Israeli spy to identify a Palestinian terrorist, and is co-opted by morally ambiguous people. Andoh gives Charlie a light, sweet voice and an unsophisticated tone that emphasize her bravado and innocence. From slow-burn psychological seductions to rapid-fire arguments, she makes the complex multilayered story accessible and provocative throughout.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Dreamscape.

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YOU'LL NEVER FIND ME by Allison Brennan, read by Hillary Huber

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about the fun of diving into the start of a new series from a favorite author, Allison Brennan. Hillary Huber has the perfect voice for PI Margo Angelhart, portraying her as confident, righteous, and brave. Margo’s chapters, told in the first person, let listeners experience her thoughts and emotions as she protects abused women and uncovers her own client’s deceptions. But listeners also hear the points of view of several other characters in their own chapters, adding depth to our understanding and all masterfully differentiated by Huber. A fantastic start to this new series.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

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FIRE AND BONES by Kathy Reichs, read by Linda Emond

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Linda Emond returns to deliver a masterful performance in the 23rd installment of the Temperance Brennan series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the newest book from author Kathy Reichs, this time set in Washington, D.C., at the site of a tragic fire. Emond has found the perfect voice for the forensic anthropologist who relentlessly works to put together the puzzles provided by body remains. Listeners will learn about criminals from the Prohibition era and their continued legacy. Reichs’s engaging plot partnered with Emond’s exceptional narration will keep listeners glued to their earbuds.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES by Katherine Rundell, read by Samuel West

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine’s Robin Whitten discuss a magical children’s audiobook from author Katherine Rundell, and narrated by English actor Samuel West. If Christopher weren’t holding a baby griffin, he never would have come to believe his grandfather about the hidden archipelago where magical creatures live—or agreed when Mal, a girl who is looking for her griffin, asks him to go there and help her find out why they’re dying. West’s presentation shines as he provides voices appropriate for the magical world’s denizens, and increasing emphasis as the journey becomes more dangerous and its consequences more dire.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Listening Library.

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WE'RE ALONE by Edwidge Danticat, read by Edwidge Danticat

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Edwidge Danticat’s audiobook of essays testifies to a close reader and observer of human affairs. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how the famed Haitian American novelist, memoirist, and children’s author is clearly a practiced narrator. Her essays range from the horrors of racism, the toll of hurricanes, and the inequity of climate change to the appreciation of writers she admires. A fine collection that creates an indelible portrait of a keen and remarkable mind.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Recorded Books.

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INTO THE CLEAR BLUE SKY by Rob Jackson, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Sean Patrick Hopkins narrates a globe-trotting audiobook, bringing enthusiasm and the right tempo to his narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Rob Jackson’s examination of the scientific basis for climate change. Stanford-based Jackson, chair of the Global Carbon Project, does hands-on work in ecology: He has marked gas leaks in Washington, D.C.; witnessed the deaths of river dolphins in the Amazon; and reported on rewilding efforts in Finland. A primer for positive action and a warning about what happens if we don’t act.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE BLUE PLATE by Mark Easter, Anthony Myint [Fore.], read by Mark Easter

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Mark Easter narrates his guide to where our food comes from and how its production affects the planet. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Easter’s calm and clear delivery of his highly informed text. His urgent focus, agriculture’s carbon footprint, is told through research, reporting, and anecdotes. A primer on macro issues of food and climate change that also offers useful micro suggestions.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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FROSTBITE by Nicola Twilley, read by Nicola Twilley

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist and podcaster Nicola Twilley has dedicated years to the study of refrigeration. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed how this is one of the most important environmental studies of the year. The audiobook reveals the significance of cooling food and the cost to the environment of doing so, as well as its effect on flavor. Twilley is witty and ably simplifies science. She describes the elements of the “cold chain” that bring us our food, but bemoans how the convenience of the fridge often displaces flavor and sacrifices vitamins.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ENTITLEMENT by Rumaan Alam, read by Nicole Lewis

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Rumaan Alam’s new novel tells the story of a mega-rich octogenarian and a 33-year-old Black woman. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how narrator Nicole Lewis does an excellent job voicing the story with subtle gradations of tone and tempo. The plot involves Vassar-educated Brooke Orr; Lewis gets her sound and style. Orr goes to work for wealthy philanthropist Asher Jaffee to help him give away his billions, and the story explores wealth and aspiration, race, and power. This often dark story stays with the listener.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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Interview with narrator Dara Rosenberg

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dara Rosenberg joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb for a conversation about the joy and fun of her work narrating The Undoubtable Rose Beaufont fantasy audiobooks. In this series, written by Sarah Noffke and Michael Anderle, listeners meet magicians, witches, giants, and talking dragons! Listen to hear about how Dara approaches narrating this action-packed series starring Rose Beaufont, who suddenly learns she’s half mortal and half magician and has to save the mortal world from uncontrolled magic.

Read our review of the first in the series, THE MYSTERIOUS DAUGHTER. Published by Dreamscape.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Dreamscape.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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INVESTIGATORS by John Patrick Green, read by Aaron Yamawaki, Christopher Hastings, Helen Laser, John Patrick Green, Lipica Shah, Max Meyers, Torian Brackett

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A full cast performs John Patrick Green’s humorous investigation featuring upright-walking, talking, vest-wearing alligators. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the fun of listening to this wacky kids’ audiobook adapted from the graphic novel. Mango and Brash go undercover at Batter Down Bakery to find a kidnapped baker and fight the evil “Crackerdile.” This pun-filled story includes clever acronyms, vocal sound effects, and catchy tunes that will make listeners of all ages laugh out loud.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE SAFE MAN by Michael Connelly, Terrill Lee Lankford, read by Jack Quaid, Titus Welliver, and a Full Cast

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Michael Connelly’s eight-part podcast is wonderfully produced and offers a handful of actors woven in and out of a riveting and well-paced story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this adapted horror story that smoothly intertwines the fantastical into the plot. After a novelist calls a locksmith to open a safe, things get a bit scary for them both. Listeners will remain engaged, and once you start listening, you won’t want to stop.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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YELLOW FACE by David Henry Hwang, read by Jason Biggs, Daniel Dae Kim, Ashley Park, Wendell Pierce, Benedict Wong, Noah Bean, Dick Cavett, Margaret Cho, Ronan Farrow, Fritz Friedman, Joel De La Fuente, Margaret Fung, Gish Jen, Francis Jue and a Full Cast

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

David Henry Hwang’s sharp, purposeful, yet very playful “unreliable” memoir is serious satirical fun performed by a full cast. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a white actor being cast as a lead in a play that strongly protests casting white actors in Asian American roles. David Henry Hwang, portrayed by a droll Daniel Dae Kim, has a hard decision to make: Come clean or cover it up. As this production unfolds fast-paced scenes of phone calls, monologues, memories, and kitchen-table conversations, it takes on the serious subjects of cultural appropriation, artistic freedom, and flat-out discrimination.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE AMEN CORNER by James Baldwin, read by Myra Lucretia Taylor, Dion Graham, January LaVoy, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Janina Edwards, Aaron Goodson, Angel Pean, Shayna Small, Robin Miles, Dominic Hoffman, JD Jackson, Adenrele Ojo

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

James Baldiwn’s three-act play about the power of religion to shield people from the outside world has a cast that is quirky, protective, gossipy, dogmatic, and spirited. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this full cast performance that honors Baldiwn’s narrative and enhances it by capturing the intensity and emotions of the play. This is a story of the highs and lows of passionate people who are trying to survive the best way they can.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT by Riley Sager, read by Santino Fontana

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Santino Fontana delivers Riley Sager’s trademark psychological suspense. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this twisty thriller that’s a great slow-burn mystery with a touch of the paranormal. It’s 1994, and 10-year-old Ethan and his best friend, Billy, camp out in Ethan’s backyard. The night will tragically be remembered as the night Billy was taken from the tent while his best friend slept beside him. Thirty years later, Ethan reluctantly returns to his childhood home. Immersive storytelling helps listeners follow dual timelines. Fontana’s expressive tone enhances the multiple points of view.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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The sponsor for today's podcast is Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, a witty memoir about legendary journalist Connie Chung's experience as the first Asian woman to break into the overwhelmingly white male dominated news industry--read by Connie Chung! Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE BLACK BIRD ORACLE by Deborah Harkness, read by Jennifer Ikeda

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Jennifer Ikeda reintroduces listeners to power couple Diana and Matthew de Claremont, witch and vampire, and their equally magical children. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this continuation of the tale that Deborah Harkness first started in A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. When a black bird brings Diana a message, she heads to Ravenswood, her Aunt Gwyneth’s property in Massachusetts, to uncover the dark side of her magic. Ikeda brings every corner of Ravenswood to life, pointing out its marshes, barns, and haunted woods in warm, wondrous tones. Her narration illuminates the shadowy paths Diana now chooses to tread.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE STARDUST GRAIL by Yume Kitasei, read by Katharine Chin

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Kendra Winchester tells host Jo Reed about one of the most delightful science fiction stories of the year. Katharine Chin performs Yume Kitasei’s Indiana Jones-like adventure that’s perfect for lovers of great heist stories. Maya Hoshimoto, former thief, has retired to Earth to be a graduate student in anthropology. But when her best friend asks her to do one last job, she reluctantly agrees. Chin’s narration captures Maya’s adventurous spirit as she travels across space with her crew, and she keeps listeners on the edge of their seats with her performance.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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LITTLE ROT by Akwaeke Emezi, read by Adepero Oduye, Chukwudi Iwuji

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Adepero Oduye and Chukwudi Iwuji perform Akwaeke Emezi’s novel told by a group of characters who are all connected by the events of a single night. AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester tells host Jo Reed about what she describes as one of the most whirlwind stories she’s listened to all year. In an unnamed city in Nigeria, Kalu attends a sex party to help him forget that his girlfriend, Aima, has just left him. But everything goes wrong, and Kalu finds himself sucked into the city’s seedy underbelly with no way out. The narrators work together to draw listeners in with the emotional depth of their performances.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Today's podcast is brought to you by the audiobook edition of CONNIE, read by Connie Chung, on sale today from Hachette Audio. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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TEHRANGELES by Porochista Khakpour, read by Mikaela Hoover, Manijeh Khakpour

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Mikaela Hoover performs Porochista Khakpour’s wildly delightful novel about Iranian American fast-food heiresses and wannabe reality television stars. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story about four sisters at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which toppled their dreams of a reality series focused on their family. The Milani family is forced to spend all of their time together and tensions rise. Hoover gives each dramatically different viewpoint character a distinct narrative voice, highlighting the charming and unique qualities of each character.

Read our review of the audiobook at our website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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NOT QUITE A GHOST by Anne Ursu, read by Eva Kaminsky

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a middle-grade novel that is perfect for heading back to school — and is a little bit haunted. Eva Kaminsky depicts Violet, who is nervous about moving into the strange attic bedroom of her family’s new home and worried about starting 6th grade. Kaminsky reflects the uncertainty that creeps into Violet’s voice when she feels betrayed by her two best friends’ cruelty at a sleepover. Then she gets sick and doesn’t get better, spending more time in her room with its creepy yellow wallpaper. Violet’s fear becomes palpable as her weakness and fatigue intensify, and she starts to hear a terrifying voice from within the wallpaper.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today's podcast is brought to you by the audiobook edition of CONNIE, read by Connie Chung, on sale this September 17th from Hachette Audio. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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EVERYTHING WE NEVER HAD by Randy Ribay, read by JB Tadena, Ramón de Ocampo, Manny Jacinto, Jesse Inocalla

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss an audiobook for teens where four narrators in alternating chapters depict intergenerational Filipino sons and fathers over the course of a century. Ramón de Ocampo portrays young Francisco, who left the Philippines and works on California farms in the 1930s. JB Tadena captures angry Emil, whose father Francisco, now an adult, deserts his family to pursue Filipino rights in 1965. Manny Jacinto portrays cowed, bitter Chris in 1985, whose father, Emil, pushes him to assimilate. During the pandemic, Jesse Inocalla reveals sensitive Enzo’s worry about disease and his father’s relationship with Lolo Emil, who moves into their home.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Victoria Villarreal, Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, Javier Prusky, Fred Sanders, Lee Osorio, Cassandra Campbell

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Victoria Villarreal and an ensemble cast narrate a thrilling epic set in 1950s Hollywood. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this lush historical novel based around a Biblical sword-and-sandal film. When an unknown actress from Mexico is cast to play Salome in the latest picture, tempers flare. Villarreal capably narrates the three main storylines: Vera Larios, the unknown Mexican ingénue; Nancy Hartley, a bit player who feels cheated out of a starring role; and Salome herself. Additional narrators voice brief interviews and gossipy articles to give listeners further insight into the tragic tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LOST STORY by Meg Shaffer, read by Jorjeana Marie

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jorjeana Marie’s captivating narration brings this portal fantasy to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a story of lost children, fractured friendships, and magical worlds. Mourning the loss of her adoptive mother, Emilie Wendell vows to find her half-sister she never knew, who disappeared in a West Virginia forest years ago. Desperate for a lead, she enlists the help of Jeremy Cox and Rafe Howell—estranged friends who emerged from the same forest after an unexplained disappearance 15 years earlier. Marie tells the story with a gentleness and warmth that add to its nostalgic premise. It’s an immersive experience that mirrors Emilie’s descent into a dark yet enchanting realm and her companions’ traumatic memories.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today's podcast is brought to you by the audiobook edition of CONNIE, read by Connie Chung, on sale this September 17th from Hachette Audio. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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THE PAIRING by Casey McQuiston, read by Emma Galvin, Max Meyers

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Emma Galvin and Max Meyers voice the perspectives of sommelier-in-training Theo Flowerday and French pastry chef Kit Fairfield. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of two bisexual exes who wind up on a three week European food tour together—the same tour they were meant to take together before they broke up four years earlier. Their skills at narrating Theo and Kit, along with everyone they encounter along their decadent tour, make for a true feast of vocal work and culinary descriptions.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY by Theodore Dreiser, read by Grover Gardner

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

A master performer, Grover Gardner elevates Dreiser’s naturalistic 1925 novel, an account of the strivings and disappointments of Clyde Griffiths, a flawed but fascinating protagonist whose rise and fall end when he commits a heinous crime and is executed for it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a title that Alan says will make even the most hard-hearted listener yearn for restorative justice, thanks to its precisely chiseled anti-capitalist details of a stratified collar factory with its nepotistic organization and its evocation of prison life—rigid, punitive, and unyielding.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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WE ARE EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT DELAY by Gary Janetti, read by Gary Janetti

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

TV writer/producer Janetti is a fine traveling companion as he takes the listener on a grand tour of his favorite places. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Janetti packs this audiobook with observations on such topics as the decline of fashion on airplanes, along with tips on how to shut off unwanted conversations and how to only pack for three days. An entertaining storyteller, Janetti pitches an idea to Maggie Smith (a no), falls in love on Mykonos (an everlasting yes), and lovingly recounts a family cruise. Worth your time.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE NEW TOURIST by Paige McClanahan, read by Paige McClanahan

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Paige McClanahan gives this audiobook a sense of her lived experience as a travel writer, reporter, and thoughtful interpreter of the world of travel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her exploration of this reconsideration for how we travel, told in her appealing voice and persuasive narration. The listener goes along on forays to Iceland and Hawaii, as well as to overly visited Amsterdam and Barcelona, where travel is meaningful to the economies but not always to the locals.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today's podcast is brought to you by the audiobook edition of CONNIE, read by Connie Chung, on sale this September 17th from Hachette Audio. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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ON CALL by Anthony Fauci, read by Anthony Fauci

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Anthony Fauci’s new memoir on audio. Doctor Fauci's public career spans five decades, and gained prominence during the COVID-19 epidemic for his confrontations with the former president and far right members of Congress. Tinged with his Brooklyn accent, his reading is authentic, if not melodic. He ably simplifies the scientific concepts he encountered in his life in medicine.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for our podcast comes from Hachette Audio, the publisher of CONNIE, this behind the scenes look into Connie Chung's life, read by Connie Chung herself. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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STORIES ARE WEAPONS by Annalee Newitz, read by Alexandra Cohler

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Alexandra Cohler has the right tone, tempo, and style for this polemical and highly informed audiobook on propaganda. She can sound like she’s reporting on a real-life scene or immersed in a sci-fi setting. Her narrative approach works well with this provocative work by journalist/science fiction novelist Annalee Newitz, who challenges preconceived notions about messages and messaging. An idea-rich listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today's podcast is brought to you by the audiobook edition of CONNIE, read by Connie Chung, on sale this September 17th from Hachette Audio. Find out more at Hachette Audio.

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WANDERING STARS: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

This audiobook reveals that Tommy Orange is among the most insightful novelists writing today and a poet of pain. In their conversation from earlier this year, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this immersive novel set in Oakland that makes for a powerful listening experience. Among the segmented novel’s stellar performances, Charley Flyte’s reading of Victoria Bear Shield’s dramatic monologue to her unborn daughter is a tour de force—a haunting performance with an expressive tone and intimate voice. Alma Cuervo portrays Jacquie Red Feather and Victoria—the unborn infant, now a grandmother—with candor, compassion, and a thoughtful pace.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE WOMEN: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

The sure touch of Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan transforms Kristin Hannah’s absorbing novel about Vietnam War combat nurses into an addictive listen. In their conversation from this winter, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this intimate portrait and sprawling account of a searing time. The story focuses on 20-year-old Frances McGrath, who, in 1965, impetuously chooses the Army Nurse Corps over cotillions and marriage. As the novel interweaves historical research with the characters’ Vietnam and post-war lives, Whelan’s intensity and warmth help listeners empathize with the personal and understand the big picture.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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COME AND GET IT: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Nicole Lewis performs this sophomore novel from Booker longlisted author Kiley Reid. In their conversation from earlier this year, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester talk about how Reid excels at writing dialogue, and how Lewis’s performance of those conversations takes them to a whole new level. Millie Cousins is a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas with big dreams, and when a visiting professor and journalist offers her money in exchange for eavesdropping on her dorm’s residents, she takes the risk. As the drama twists and turns, Lewis’s narration keeps listeners enraptured until the very end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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FIRST LIE WINS: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners will be convinced there’s a full cast delivering this fast-paced thriller from Ashley Elston. Yet it’s just one narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, who masterfully voices all of the characters. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this mystery audiobook in their conversation from earlier in 2024. Evie Porter has many names and personas she has adopted for her work for the mysterious Mr. Smith. The narrative goes back and forth in time, revealing the successful and disastrous assignments that have landed her in a small town in Louisiana, where she’s building a loving relationship with her next target. The twists and turns will keep listeners glued to their earbuds all the way to the satisfying conclusion.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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GRETA & VALDIN: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

This week, we’re revisiting discussions of favorite audiobooks from this year. Narrators Natalie Beran and Jackson Bliss portray queer Russian-Maori siblings Greta and Valdin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Rebecca K. Reilly’s wise, hilarious audiobook about a loving and chaotic New Zealand family. Beran depicts Greta, a 20-something PhD student in a perky, wry tone that is dripping with millennial angst. Bliss narrates Valdin’s sections with a mix of earnestness and detachment. A year after being dumped by his boyfriend, he’s just (maybe) starting to get his life back on track. The narrators’ varied New Zealand accents and ease with snappy dialogue make every moment of this joyful audiobook a pleasure.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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Interview with J. Michael Straczynski

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Author J. Michael Straczynski joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb for a conversation about his new audio original, EARTHLIGHT. Straczynski is well known as the creator of the “Babylon 5” TV series and has written comics for Marvel and DC. His newest book, EARTHLIGHT, is a high-stakes military sci-fi audiobook performed by Erik Braa and a full cast with immersive sound effects and music. Listen in to learn about the approach Straczynski took when writing an audio original and why this story fits so well with the audio format.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Random House Audio.

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PINK GLASS HOUSES by Asha Elias, read by Stacy Gonzalez, Saskia Maarleveld, Andi Arndt, Helen Laser, André Santana, Amy Landon, John Pirhalla, Robin Miles, Michael Crouch, Jane Oppenheimer

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Asha Elias’s new audiobook, performed by an ensemble cast. The action centers around the PTA at an elementary school. Things get ugly when Melody Howard’s family moves from Kansas into the land of wealth and privilege for her husband’s new job in Miami. Melody, portrayed by Andi Arndt, gets sucked into this glamorous world, challenging PTA president Charlotte, played by Saskia Maarleveld.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE SONS OF EL REY by Alex Espinoza, read by Gisela Chípe, Tony Chiroldes, Lee Osorio, André Santana

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Alex Espinoza’s riveting audiobook delves into the lives of three generations of luchadores, masked Mexican wrestlers, who are grappling with love and family secrets in Mexico City and Los Angeles. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this powerful story where narrators Gisela Chípe, Tony Chiroldes, Lee Osorio, and André Santana bring depth and authenticity to their characters. Their nuanced performances enrich Espinoza's poignant narrative, making this audiobook a captivating exploration of heritage, identity, and familial bonds.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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NEPHEW by M.K. Asante, read by M.K. Asante, Dion Graham, Adenrele Ojo, Neph

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

M.K. Asante's performance captures the essence of what makes the audiobook medium vital: a living experience that grabs listeners from start to finish. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a book that Michele calls memorable and affecting. Asante unfolds the story of his nephew Nasir's emergency treatment in intensive care after multiple gunshot wounds. Supporting performances by Dion Graham as Nasir's estranged father, Uzi, and Adenrele Ojo as the family matriarch are equally moving and, at times, heartbreaking. Listeners experience a collective performance that captures the power of art to touch the soul.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams, read by Helen Laser, Caroline Hewitt

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Beatriz Williams’s new romantic audiobook is rendered perfectly by two narrators, Helen Laser and Caroline Hewitt. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story about two women who are separated by decades and continents but joined by blood, tragedy, and a jeweled cobra bracelet. Laser portrays the contemporary New England heroine, Mallory, a single mom. Hewitt depicts Hannah, who in 1952 is living in Cairo, where it is seething with revolution. This production is filled with memorable characters, family secrets, passionate romance, and historical drama.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore, read by Saskia Maarleveld

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Liz Moore’s fascinating listen brought to life by Saskia Maareleveld. Thirteen-year-old Barbra Van Laar goes missing from her bunk at an Adirondack summer camp in 1975—and her brother vanished from the same location 16 years earlier. Maareleveld explores the impact the disappearances have on the Van Laar family and the surrounding working-class community amid the search for Barbra. She immerses listeners in the mystery, delivering subtle drama as the fallout from both disappearances leads to complications no one expects.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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MIDNIGHT ROOMS by Donyae Coles, read by Georgina Campbell

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Georgina Campbell performs Donyae Coles’s gothic tale set in 1840s England. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this sinister listen. Orabella Mumthrope finds herself marrying a mysterious, wealthy stranger to help settle her uncle’s debt. At her new husband’s historic home, she finds his family seems to have far too many secrets. As Orabella struggles against restrictions and tries to figure out the key to her new family’s strange behavior, Campbell’s voice rises and falls with twists and turns in the story, maintaining the listener’s attention with every new revelation.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance Publishing.

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THE BRIGHT SWORD by Lev Grossman, read by Nicholas Guy Smith, Lev Grossman [Note]

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Nicholas Guy Smith evokes the Arthurian legends of old in Lev Grossman’s tongue-in-cheek Knights of the Round Table-inspired novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story of Collum, who dreams of joining King Arthur’s knights, but when he arrives in Camelot, King Arthur is dead. Smith shines in this grand, ambitious novel, especially as he performs the dialogue of the various knights. Full of humor, magic, and endless quests, this story is perfect for any lover of King Arthur tales.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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NO SON OF MINE by Jonathan Corcoran, read by Christopher P. Brown

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Christopher P. Brown performs Jonathan Corcoran’s intimate memoir of his relationship with his mother after she discovers he’s gay. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this moving listen. Corcoran’s mother dies during the first years of the Covid pandemic, leaving him and his two sisters to handle her affairs. From there, Corcoran takes listeners back through their complex relationship, sharing how his mother’s homophobia has followed him his entire life. Brown beautifully performs both the tense and heartfelt moments and deftly handles the West Virginia accents of Corcoran’s family, making each character unique.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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REDNECKS by Taylor Brown, read by Ramiz Monsef

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ramiz Monsef performs Taylor Brown’s historical novel set during the Battle of Blair Mountain in the early 1920s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this listen that will keep listeners on edge until the very last second. Lebanese American “Doc Moo” Muhanna serves as a medical doctor during the Mine Wars. Monsef’s narration enlivens the characters as they give listeners various perspectives on these historical events. Monsef skillfully performs many different accents, and maintains the tension as the action of the novel picks up.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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CALL FOR THE DEAD by John le Carré, read by Simon Vance

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Simon Vance affably narrates George Smiley in this first novel by John le Carré, published in 1961. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the thrill of listening to Vance narrate this classic mystery and Smiley’s origin story. It centers around a faux suicide, East German espionage agents, and a Secret Service that prefers to sweep things under the rug. Vance’s mastery of British Isles accents, especially his upper-class inflections, contributes to le Carré's vivid storytelling.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/251210/

Published by Dreamscape.

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SHANGHAI by Joseph Kanon, read by Jonathan Davis

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jonathan Davis digs deep into his narration toolbox in Joseph Kanon’s atmospheric audiobook set in 1939. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this tense listen. As the world prepares for war, displaced European Jews attempt a departure to parts unknown. Davis employs a stoic tone when describing Kristallnacht, the beatings, and the rounding up of family members. When the disparate citizens gather on a last-chance trip to Shanghai, Davis modulates the tempo and emotion throughout the remainder of the audiobook, ratcheting up the anticipation for the protagonist’s final confrontation with the Japanese Gestapo.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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OUR MAN IN HAVANA by Graham Greene, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Matthew Lloyd Davies brings his considerable talent to one of Graham Greene’s best-known novels. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the story of how James Wormold, a vacuum cleaner retailer, invents a spy ring in order to cover his daughter’s extravagances. Davies manipulates accents, vocal tones, and pitch ranges to bring the characters to life. He enhances the novel’s dark (sometimes very dark) humor, as well.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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THE LAST HOPE by Susan Elia MacNeal, read by Susan Duerden

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Susan Elia MacNeal’s 12th and final Maggie Hope novel. Susan Duerden gives a strong performance as the intrepid heroine takes on a frightening mission, meeting up again with Coco Chanel, the French fashion designer and Nazi collaborator. British concerns about the Germans acquiring a fission bomb lead Maggie to Madrid, where danger lurks around every corner and double agents will stop at nothing to thwart Allied efforts.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. The Sound of Storytelling. Discover your next great listen at Brilliance.

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A NEST OF VIPERS by Harini Nagendra, read by Soneela Nankani

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Golden Voice Soneela Nankani immerses listeners in 1920s India. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this third installment in Harini Nagendra’s Bangalore Detectives Club series that’s rife with intrigue, politics, and the fight for autonomy. Nankani’s brisk, distinctly voiced performance is riveting as she expertly distinguishes among the large cast of characters, and she’s particularly effective as Kaveri Murthy, mathematician, feminist, and intrepid organizer of the amateur detectives club.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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HUDA F ARE YOU? by Huda Fahmy, read by Huda Fahmy, Aixa Kay, Ayman Samman, Christie Bahna, Rasha Zamamiri, and a Full Cast

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Huda Fahmy’s hilarious graphic novel for teens will delight listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to this lively audio adaptation. Huda’s having a bit of an identity crisis. Her family’s just moved from a small town to Dearborn, Michigan, and suddenly her personality can’t just be “the hijabi girl” because she’s not the only one. Fahmy’s wry narration perfectly captures the many ups and downs of freshman year. A full cast of narrators, music, and sound effects help tell Huda’s story as she bounces around between cliques, bickers with her sisters, makes new friends, faces down bullies and Islamophobes, and survives a raucous year of high school.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE NIGHT OF BABA YAGA by Akira Otani, Sam Bett [Trans.], read by Cindy Kay

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this dramatic Japanese thriller from Akira Otani. Cindy Kay’s steely voice ensures the listener feels every bit of tension in this short and memorable audiobook. After Yoriko Shindo is kidnapped, she finds herself forced into working for an arm of the yakuza—she has to serve as the driver for Shoko, the daughter of the brutal boss. It’s a violent, disturbing world that Shindo is pulled into, but she’s unusually tough, and listeners hear her taunt her attackers as she fights back. Slowly, Shindo and Shoko form a sort of friendship, putting them both at risk.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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A SHORE THING by Joanna Lowell, read by Ros Watt

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ros Watt’s narration highlights all the charm of Joanna Lowell’s queer historical romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a story set in Cornwall’s countryside, complete with a bicycle race, a botanist, and a rake. Kit Griffith is a dashing bicycle shop owner who left his old life behind, in which he belonged to a sisterhood of women artists. He’s now building a new life in Cornwall, where he encounters the indefatigable botanist, Muriel Pendrake. Watt conveys the lively conversations with their rounded British accent, shifting smoothly between Muriel’s bright voice and Kit’s deeper pitch. Watt’s warm voice captures the adventure and blossoming romance as Kit and Muriel cycle the coastline together.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Media, featuring their new audiobook Rifts and Refrains. Follow Amara Johnson's journey through music, mystery, and romance, available exclusively on Dreamscape First. Don't miss out on this captivating tale… please visit Dreamscape to learn more and start listening!

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THE UNDERMINING OF TWYLA AND FRANK by Megan Bannen, read by Nicol Zanzarella

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Nicol Zanzarella brings heaps of charm to her narration of this engaging fantasy romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the sequel to Megan Bannen’s THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY. Twyla and Frank have been neighbors, then best friends, then partners in the Marshals, spending 8 years patrolling the dangerous Tanrian world together. But they’re never going to be more than friends—right? Zanzarella performs Twyla’s wonderful blend of boldness and grandmotherly sweetness, while Frank has a rumbly, deep voice and an appealing twangy drawl in Zanzarella’s performance. Zanzarella’s narration is utterly delightful, as is the story, complete with an intriguing mystery, a fascinating fantasy world, and a heartwarming, slow-burn romance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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BURY YOUR GAYS by Chuck Tingle, read by André Santana, Charlie Jane Anders, CJ Leede, Georgia Bird, Liz Kerin, Mara Wilson, Mark Oshiro, Sarah Gailey, Stephen Graham Jones, T. Kingfisher, TJ Klune

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how narrator André Santana skillfully performs Chuck Tingle’s thrilling Hollywood horror novel. Screenwriter Misha Byrne has just received an ultimatum from the studio executives — their algorithm says to kill off his beloved queer TV characters, or else. Misha refuses, and Santana captures Misha’s initial angry exasperation, then his escalating terror as he suddenly faces deadly characters from his horror films. Scripts of certain mysterious scenes are performed by a full cast of authors. It’s both a spine-tingling horror story and a moving exploration of queer identity, humanity, and storytelling.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Media, featuring their new audiobook Rifts and Refrains. Follow Amara Johnson's journey through music, mystery, and romance, available exclusively on Dreamscape First. Don't miss out on this captivating tale… please visit Dreamscape to learn more and start listening!

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Interview with Author Lucy Strange

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Author Lucy Strange joins host Michele Cobb for a conversation about Lucy’s award-winning audiobooks, which she narrates herself. Listen to their conversation to hear more about how Lucy’s background in acting and teaching influences her approach to storytelling, her experiences with narrating her own audiobooks and those by other authors, and what challenges and surprises her most about narrating. Her 2023 audiobook SISTERS OF THE LOST MARSH was an Earphones Award winner as well as a 2024 Odyssey Honor Audiobook, and it is a memorable listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Today’s episode is sponsored by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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THE UNWEDDING by Ally Condie, read by Christine Lakin

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ally Condie’s engaging mystery that’s just right for summer listening. Christine Lakin captures Ellery Wainwright’s unsteady state of mind so effectively that the tension in this mystery builds exponentially. Ellery finds herself alone at an exotic Big Sur resort after her husband leaves her. As she struggles through her major life change, she finds herself embroiled in a possible murder. Condie’s audiobook transports listeners to the perfect summer locale with exquisite twists. Throughout, Lakin’s authentic performance is layered and vulnerable, making Ellery’s plight even more frightening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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COMING HOME by Brittney Griner, Michelle Burford, read by Andia Winslow, Brittney Griner

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Andia Winslow narrates WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner’s memoir, which has a strong focus on her imprisonment in Russia. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Griner’s harrowing tale. Winslow’s delivery is outstanding; she recounts the fear and frustration that Griner went through and deftly projects Griner’s emotions every step of the way. Griner is open about the perceptions of her sexuality and deftly weaves in recollections of her upbringing. Coupled with its honest account of what happened in Russia, this memoir is a fascinating listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLUB by Griffin Dunne, read by Griffin Dunne

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Griffin Dunne’s narration of his memoir pairs a tender conversational tone with occasional moments of drama that embrace his gifts as a writer and actor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this engrossing listen chronicling Dunne’s life within an interesting family, sparing no details. Whether he’s telling stories of privileged, Hollywood familiars, political well-knowns, family members, or famed relatives like writers John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion, each vignette commands attention. Dunne stitches stories into a powerful arc that compels from beginning to end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/251186/

Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE QUEEN OF FOURTEENTH STREET by Barrie Kreinik, read by Barrie Kreinik, Orlagh Cassidy, Imani Jade Powers, Elisabeth Rodgers, James Fouhey

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A talented cast of voice actors, including playwright Barrie Kreinik, dazzles in this audio original. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of Eva Le Gallienne, a queer actor and director who founded The Civic Repertory Theatre in 1926. Her work revolutionized theater, but she struggled to keep her creation going in the Depression. Kreinik is stunning as Eva, capturing her larger-than-life personality, while the remaining actors portray her various girlfriends, company actors, mentors, friends, and others. The production’s impeccable sound design brings 1930s New York to life. This is audio theater at its absolute best.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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FIRE EXIT by Morgan Talty, read by Darrell Dennis

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Darrell Dennis navigates this touching novel about a family in distress; it’s a gritty story about addiction, dementia, and obligations. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this debut novel from the author of the short story collection NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ. Charles Lamosway is a white man raised on Maine’s Penobscot reservation—an outsider. With the empathy created by Dennis, listeners will root for Charles as he deals with losing his mother and trying to connect with an estranged daughter. Talty’s debut novel is a virtuoso story of blood, heritage, beliefs, and the legacy of how we are indebted to others. Dennis’s youthful tone and empathy for these troubled characters make this listen triumphant and bittersweet.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY by Grant Overstake, May Wuthrich [Adapt.], read by Dani Martineck, Dion Graham, Tavia Gilbert, Johnny Heller, Shayna Small, Michael Crouch, Sheila Brown Kinnard, and a Full Cast

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Grant Overstake’s audio drama details racial strife in Wichita, Kansas, in 1968. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the full cast and fine production values. A seventh-grade boy’s life becomes upended when a Black family moves in next door. The narrators of this fraught coming-of-age story are excellent. The audio drama has moments of remarkable verisimilitude: from the play-by-play announcing of a basketball game to the whirring of a helicopter in Vietnam. Performed by a gifted cast, this slice of our history stays with the listener.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Grant Overstake.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali, read by Mozhan Navabi, Nikki Massoud

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Mozhan Navabi performs Marjan Kamali’s audiobook with the right tone and tempo. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how this audiobook evokes the contemporary history of Tehran and Iran, from the 1950s to 1970s. Navabi captures the guilt-ridden Ellie, who is tormented by her past. Ellie’s best friend Homa, voiced with a younger sound and tone by Nikki Massoud, is an Iranian revolutionary who champions women’s rights and is jailed for her beliefs. An immersive listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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SOLDIER SAILOR by Claire Kilroy, read by Simone Collins

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Claire Kilroy’s novel details a young mother’s fatigue, frustrations, and joys at raising a trying infant who becomes a willful toddler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this dramatic monologue on motherhood and marriage, narrated with an intimate and persuasive tone and lovely Irish lilt by Simone Collins. Her performance resonates as her tone, pace, and intonation reveal the struggling mom’s love. This brief, powerful depiction of motherhood rings true and creates an immersive listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE NATURE OF OUR CITIES by Nadina Galle, read by Eileen Stevens

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners will find much to learn in Nadina Galle’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a study from the ecological engineer who coined the term Internet of Nature. Galle has a refreshingly positive and heretical assertion that nature and technology can be allied. Eileen Stevens earns high praise for her thoughtful, almost conspiratorial tone. It’s as if she’s saying, “Pay attention, and you’ll be surprised.” Burn bots, nature apps of all types, and cures for eco anxiety are just a few of the positive insights in this revelatory work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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In Conversation with Robert Petkoff, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Robert Petkoff joins host Jo Reed to discuss his talented performances of hundreds of audiobooks, spanning a wide range of genres. Robert has brought to life everything from thrilling mysteries and science fiction epics to deeply researched nonfiction. He’s able to create distinct and memorable voices for each character, and he has a knack for engaging storytelling. Listen in to his conversation with Jo to hear more about how he got his start on the stage and behind the mic, how he prepares for narrating fiction like Andrew Sean Greer’s LESS IS LOST, the fun of narrating thrillers, and the distinct skills needed for making nonfiction engaging and conversational.

Read reviews of Robert Petkoff’s audiobooks at our website.

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ALL FOURS by Miranda July, read by Miranda July

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Miranda July perfectly delivers the overanxious voice of her quirky, unnamed protagonist who realizes, too late, that she’s having a midlife crisis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of a solo drive across the country that turns into a bizarre stay in a motel close to home. That one decision sends the protagonist on a perimenopausal coming-of-age adventure full of awkward sex and complex feelings. July’s intimate narration teases out the complex emotions the protagonist is just now realizing she’s always kept under wraps.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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GAY THE PRAY AWAY by Natalie Naudus, read by Natalie Naudus

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Earphones Award-winning narrator Natalie Naudus performs her debut young adult novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Naudus shines performing her own novel. Valerie Danners realizes two things almost at the same time: She’s probably bisexual, and she’s most definitely in a cult. Naudus’s performance captures Valerie’s teen voice, portraying the depth of emotion she feels as she meets a new crush and falls in love for the first time. Naudus creates increasing tension that emphasizes Valerie’s desperation to escape her hyper-religious community. As Valerie comes into her own, Naudus’s voice carries all the warmth and love that she’s experiencing for the very first time.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Little Mountain Media.

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HORROR MOVIE by Paul Tremblay, read by Ari Fliakos, Dani Martineck, Micky Shiloah, Michael Crouch, Frankie Corzo, Stacy Gonzalez, Tyla Collier, Ariel Blake, Johnathan McClain, Dan Bittner, Eva Kaminsky, Gisela Chípe

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ari Fliakos and a full ensemble perform Paul Tremblay’s gripping story of movie making gone wrong. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester talk about this suspenseful listen. “The Thin Kid,” performed by Ari Fliakos, played a pivotal role in a never-released indie horror movie filmed in the ’90s. Now, he’s been asked to reprise his role in the remake. An ensemble of narrators performs the two versions of the screenplay, moving back and forth between the original version and the remake’s revised script. The cast of narrators creates an incredible listening experience, making HORROR MOVIE one of the must-listen horror audiobooks of the year.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio

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HOUSEMATES by Emma Copley Eisenberg, read by Marin Ireland

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Marin Ireland performs Emma Copley Eisenberg’s debut novel, which features two queer artists. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this heartfelt and delightful audiobook. Housemates Bernie and Leah set off on a road trip to capture the heart of Pennsylvania in photographs and words. While they travel across the state, their relationship grows deeper as they try to make sense of the world around them through their art. Ireland makes Bernie and Leah come alive, and she excels at expressing their depth of emotion as they work through their ideas together.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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OLIVETTI by Allie Millington, read by Christopher Gebauer, Simon Vance

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a charming children’s story about Olivetti, a typewriter spilling his tapestry of tales in order to find his missing owner. Golden Voice Simon Vance brings a gentle, snarky tone to Olivetti as he dismisses books as “one-hit wonders” and the laptop as a “show-off.” Ernest is an angsty 12-year-old portrayed expertly by Christopher Gebauer with an appealing mix of anxiety, heart, and wry humor. Ernest prefers dictionaries and solitude, but he must trust a sentient typewriter and make a friend to find his mother.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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IT HAD TO BE YOU by Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke, read by January LaVoy

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the last of the Under Suspicion audiobooks, Golden Voice January LaVoy introduces listeners to the perfect family: Sara Richard Harrington and their twin sons. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audiobook that begins with a flashback to the eve of the twins’ college graduation party. Before the party ends, Sara and Richard are shot to death, and the twins are suspects—but never charged. Now, Laurie Moran decides to investigate. This tightly plotted whodunit lends itself to LaVoy’s style and impeccable timing. Fans will not want to miss this last series installment and LaVoy’s stellar performance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Media and their exclusive audiobook, Rifts and Refrains. Dive into the compelling story of Amara Johnson, a talented musician uncovering her family's hidden past while finding love and legacy in Nashville. To start listening, visit Dreamscape Media.

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THE COMFORT OF GHOSTS by Jacqueline Winspear, read by Orlagh Cassidy

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten say goodbye to Maisie Dobbs after 18 of Jacqueline Winspear’s mystery novels, narrated beautifully by Orlagh Cassidy. Listeners will appreciate the tender way the characters’ closing stories are treated. Cassidy's use of accents lends credibility to Winspear’s fully developed characters and well-researched plot. In 1945 London, Maisie discovers four adolescents and a desperately sick soldier squatting in a vacant mansion. While solving a possible murder occupies Maisie, she is truly driven by caring for the needy. Cassidy once again provides listeners with the rich tapestry that Winspear has woven through the series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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ONE OF OUR KIND by Nicola Yoon, read by Nicole Lewis

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In an engrossing, well-characterized performance, Nicole Lewis captures the anguish and suspense in acclaimed YA author Nicola Yoon’s first adult novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story of a fictional gated community of Liberty, California, hailed as a Black utopia. Jasmyn Williams assumes she and her husband, King, will find like-minded friends and neighbors with whom to carry on the fight for racial equality and justice. But something is strangely off in Liberty. Lewis is masterful at subtly distinguishing the voices of Liberty, using cadence, intonation, and vocal amplification to heighten the tension of this absorbing psychological suspense.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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OFF THE TRACKS by Pamela Mulloy, read by Jennifer Wigmore

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss an audiobook that explores the history and meaning of train travel. Canadian actor Jennifer Wigmore has a lovely narrating voice and a pleasing tone. She narrates in an informational yet personal style that fits this immersive and deeply researched meditation on the delights of watching the landscape flash by while reading, writing, or daydreaming in the cocoon of a rail car. Author Pamela Mulloy reveals much about the history of train travel, while also recounting her own long rides through Canada and Europe.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by ECW Press.

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DEATH IN THE SPIRES by KJ Charles, read by Tom Lawrence

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners will be drawn into KJ Charles’s atmospheric and compelling historical mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of friendship—and betrayal. In 1895, Oxford University student Toby is murdered—and his close friends know that one of them must have done it. Ten years later, Jem sets out to solve the mystery that ruined his life once and for all. As the story moves back and forth in time, narrator Tom Lawrence effectively differentiates Jem’s less rarified accent and those of his wealthy, upper-crust peers. Lawrence also conveys Jem’s growing desperation as the further his investigation goes, the more secrets are revealed and the more danger Jem finds himself in.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Storm Publishing.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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BIRDING WITH BENEFITS by Sarah T. Dubb, read by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw, Evan Sibley

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Evan Sibley are a winning team in this charming romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Sarah T. Dubb’s story that’s a perfect mix of birding and falling in love. Mom and teacher Celeste is trying to find herself again after a divorce; John is a woodworker and amateur birder. Celeste is a complete newbie to birding, but she agrees to be John’s partner in the 42-day Bird Binge competition—and to pose as his girlfriend. Hutchinson-Shaw ably conveys Celeste’s bubbly, positive personality, while Sibley captures John’s shy outward demeanor and thoughtful inner world. Attraction sparks as John and Celeste add birds to their list in the beautifully described Arizona wilderness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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OCEAN'S GODORI by Elaine U. Cho, read by Judy Alice Lee

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how Judy Alice Lee narrates this action-packed space opera with skill. Ocean is a talented pilot and wicked shot working for the Korean space agency on the OHNEUL. Her best friend Teo’s ease and flirtatiousness shine through in Lee’s narration, shifting into desperation when his ship comes under attack. Haven is an outsider when he joins up on the OHNEUL’s crew, and Lee’s quiet voice reflects his thoughtful, cautious nature. Lee brings warmth to scenes of tentative romance, shipboard camaraderie, and many delicious meals. And when raiders attack, Lee ramps up the pace, making listeners feel all of the tension.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hillman Grad Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE STARS TOO FONDLY by Emily Hamilton, read by Vico Ortiz

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Vico Ortiz narrates a raucous space adventure rom-com with infectious energy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and thrills of this lively story. It’s 2061, and Cleo and her three best friends—all scientists—sneak aboard to explore the neglected rocket PROVIDENCE I. Twenty years earlier, it failed to launch and its 203-person crew mysteriously vanished. But when Cleo inadvertently starts the dark matter engine, they’re launched into a seven-year mission with only Billie, the prickly holographic computer, to guide them. Ortiz’s considerable acting talents bring each character—human and otherwise—to life. They bounce between each voice with skill, making this lively story of friendship, queer romance, and interdimensional danger heaps of fun on audio.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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MIRRORED HEAVENS by Rebecca Roanhorse, read by Christian Barillas, Darrell Dennis, Cara Gee, Shyla Lefner, Nicole Lewis, Kairyn Potts, Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

The Meridian’s clans are at war, and alliances are shifting dangerously in this dramatic conclusion to Rebecca Roanhorse’s trilogy, brought to life by an ensemble cast. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how the narrators’ skilled performances slowly reveal the many entangled storylines. Shaun Taylor-Corbett skillfully portrays Serapio as he navigates prophecies and plots against him. Nicole Lewis voices Xiala, whose determination and desperation are palpable as she protects her island home. Naranpa, portrayed by Cara Gee, is exploring the dreaming world with dangerous consequences. Christian Barillas brings drama to the character of Lord Balam, who wields deadly shadow magic in his quest for power.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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In Conversation with Kate Reading, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Kate Reading joins host Jo Reed to discuss her career in audiobook narration. Her experience with audiobooks began with her first job at the Library of Congress’s Talking Books program, which gave her an education in audiobook narration. In their conversation, they discuss her process of narrating audiobooks, particularly the importance of embodying both characters and narrative prose, and also explore how her theater background informs her narration. They also discuss her frequent audiobook partnerships with her husband, Michael Kramer, in series like “The Wheel of Time” and “The Stormlight Archive,” and the work that goes into performing long-running series like “Lady Sherlock.”

Read reviews of Kate Reading’s audiobooks at our website.

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE HEADMASTER by John McPhee, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Happily, another of John McPhee’s classics has been brought to life with this finely narrated audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini performs the work with care for the author’s eloquent descriptions of Deerfield, Massachusetts, as it evolves over the twentieth century—as does its legendary headmaster, Frank L. Boyden, who took over the school in 1902 and stayed in charge for 66 years. McPhee called this work a portrait, and he paints the picture of an elite prep school with an unusually empathetic leader. It’s the story of a man, a school, and a community.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE BLACK BOX by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., read by Dominic Hoffman

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed that what makes Golden Voice Dominic Hoffman such a fine narrator is the clarity of his delivery and his vocal agility. He sounds like he is inside Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s, brilliant mind, and he moves adroitly from the author’s knowing perspective to “signifying” in the style of African American folklore. Through this work, subtitled “Writing the Race,” historian, filmmaker, and PBS host Gates gives the listener a distinct frame through which to view African American history. This fine audiobook adds to the Harvard historian’s exceptional body of work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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REDLINED by Linda Gartz, read by Robin Miles, Moe Egan

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Robin Miles and Moe Egan do fine work narrating Linda Gartz’s revealing memoir of Chicago’s West Garfield Park and the author’s life, family, and experiences with race relations—especially during the 1960s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of family and policy. Egan voices the author and her timbre, tone, and style are just right. The supremely talented Miles narrates the many African American voices and does them very well. This is mostly a family story of striving German Americans who stay in Garfield Park despite urban blight, which is enabled by the federal redlining policies that were crafted to harm housing opportunities for Black Americans.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by She Writes Press.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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WITHIN ARM'S REACH by Ann Napolitano, read by Ray Porter, Marin Ireland, Gilli Messer, Kimberly Farr, Cassandra Campbell, Brittany Pressley, Ann Napolitano

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

A star-studded cast masterfully performs Ann Napolitano’s debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this stellar audiobook that tells the story of generations of an Irish American family. It’s hard to limit praise to just a few of the half-dozen sparkling narrations. But Brittany Pressley as Gracie, the lost-soul writer who works as a kind of “Dear Abby,” gives an empathetic and knowing reading; Marin Ireland captures the laconic tone of Gracie’s brilliant sister, Lila; and Cassandra Campbell admirably delivers the tightly wound personality and conflicted soul of their mother, Kelly. A finely crafted story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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Interview with Maia Kobabe and Nick Martorelli on GENDER QUEER

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus episode, AudioFile’s Michele Cobb spoke with author Maia Kobabe and audiobook producer Nick Martorelli from Penguin Random House. It’s a special conversation about GENDER QUEER, Kobabe’s award-winning graphic memoir, and how they adapted it into a full cast audiobook production. GENDER QUEER is Kobabe’s very personal story about gender identity, and it makes for an excellent audiobook. Listen to hear more about Kobabe’s personal relationship with audiobooks, how e and Nick worked together to adapt the graphic memoir into a script, and what it was like for Kobabe to narrate eir own work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Listening Library.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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MONA OF THE MANOR by Armistead Maupin, read by Mara Wilson

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Mara Wilson offers an admirable performance in Armistead Maupin’s tenth book in the Tales of the City series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this lively murder mystery that revives Maupin’s series well known from its PBS and Netflix adaptations. Mona Ramsey hosts American tourists Rhonda and Ernie Blaylock at her grand country home in the English countryside. Midsummer festivities approach, and dangerous secrets are discovered. Wilson builds snappy dialogue skillfully, and listeners will enjoy spending time at the manor.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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FI by Alexandra Fuller, read by Alexandra Fuller

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In this memoir of the unexpected death of her son, Fi, Alexandra Fuller pulls off quite a feat by simultaneously filling her voice with both life and loss. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Fuller’s impressive narration, which has warmth and bite at the appropriate moments. Fuller grew up in Zimbabwe, and her rich, warm voice contains appealing traces of that accent. Fi died at 21 despite having no real health problems, and grief and incomprehension are clear in every word Fuller utters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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LOVERS AT THE MUSEUM by Isabel Allende, read by Nicholas Boulton

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Nicholas Boulton delights in Isabel Allende’s short story of passionate lovers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss listening to this audiobook about a runaway bride who wakes up in Spain’s Guggenheim Museum wearing her wedding dress, in the arms of a stranger. The story is told from the perspective of a detective who is determined to charge the lovers with a crime following their torrid night of lovemaking in the museum. Boulton speaks brusquely as Detective Larramendi separately interviews the couple, who both offer the same explanation. Despite his crusty nature, Detective Larramendi cannot help being captivated by the magically implausible story that the lovers tell. Neither will listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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HOW TO READ A BOOK by Monica Wood, read by Eileen Stevens

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Eileen Stevens’s openhearted performance will warm listeners to the core and inspire a sense of true goodness in the world. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Monica Wood’s newest audiobook, which tells a story of second chances. Violet Powell is determined to make the most of her time now that she’s out of prison and building a new life in Portland, Maine. She vows she won’t be the sum of her worst act—killing a woman while driving drunk. She finds two unexpected allies in Harriet, the volunteer book club moderator at the prison, and Frank, the elderly widower of the woman Violet killed. As chapters alternate between Violet, Harriet, and Frank, Stevens adopts subtle shifts in tone and emphasis that reveal the core values and uncertainties of each character.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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In Conversation with Dominic Hoffman, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Dominic Hoffman joins host Jo Reed to tell listeners about his career in acting and in audiobook narration and being named a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Dominic tells Jo about how his experience on stage informs his audiobook narration, and the unique challenges of serving both the author’s intent and the audience’s listening experience. They discuss his narrations of James McBride’s audiobooks, including THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE, which he says was “as fun as it was challenging,” with its many accents and its nuanced story. Dominic explains his initial reluctance to narrate JAMES, by Percival Everett, and his appreciation of the new perspective that the book offered.

Read reviews of Dominic Hoffman’s audiobooks at our website.

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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Celebrating Robert Petkoff, Golden Voice Narrator

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Today AudioFile Magazine is celebrating Robert Petkoff as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Listen to host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten as they discuss Robert’s history in audiobook narration, his particular talents as a narrator, and Robert’s performances that they love to recommend.

Essential listening:

BAD CITY by Paul Pringle, read by Robert Petkoff

BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande, read by Robert Petkoff

FIRE ON THE LEVEE by Jared Fishman, Joseph Hooper, read by Robert Petkoff

LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer, read by Robert Petkoff

THE TIMES by Adam Nagourney, read by Robert Petkoff

Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Robert Petkoff, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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Celebrating Kate Reading, Golden Voice Narrator

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We’re celebrating Golden Voice narrators all this week, and today we’re thrilled to honor Kate Reading as a 2024 Golden Voice. Listen to Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discussing Kate’s many talents in the narrator booth, what favorite audiobooks of hers they recommend exploring, and what makes her a Golden Voice.

Essential listening:

A MEMORY OF LIGHT by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, read by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

DEATH AND THE MAIDEN by Ariel Dorfman, read by John Kapelos, John Mahoney, Carolyn Seymour, Kristoffer Tabori

THE ART OF THEFT by Sherry Thomas, read by Kate Reading

THE SOUVENIR MUSEUM by Elizabeth McCracken, read by Kate Reading

RHYTHM OF WAR by Brandon Sanderson, read by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading

Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Kate Reading, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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Celebrating Dominic Hoffman, Golden Voice Narrator

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine is proud to announce Dominic Hoffman as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Dominic’s many talents, including his skill with bringing characters and stories to life for audiobook listeners. Listen to hear more about what makes Dominic a Golden Voice, his many accolades, and more.

Essential listening:

DEACON KING KONG by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman

JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman

I CAN'T BREATHE by Matt Taibbi, read by Dominic Hoffman

THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman

THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley, read by Dominic Hoffman

Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Dominic Hoffman, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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Announcing the 2024 Golden Voice Narrators

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine’s Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the audiobook universe. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are announcing the new Golden Voice honorees for 2024: Dominic Hoffman, Kate Reading, and Robert Petkoff. AudioFile Magazine has bestowed the Golden Voice honor on 50 audiobook narrators; it’s an accolade that honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. We’re celebrating the iconic skills these narrators bring to their performances, and listeners can be assured that when they pick up an audiobook narrated by any of the Golden Voices, they will have an exceptional listening experience.

Robin and Jo will be honoring each of the new Golden Voices in turn this week, and we’ll have full interviews with each of the new Golden Voices this month, starting with Dominic Hoffman’s on June 7 — be sure to follow our podcast so you don’t miss it!

Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman

Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Dominic Hoffman narrates this reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but this time Jim tells his own story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this inventive story. When Jim learns he’s going to be sold to someone downriver, he flees, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Hoffman’s performance captures the varying tone of Jim’s dialogue, highlighting the shifts in his vocabulary and rhythm. With its subtlety and attention to detail, Hoffman’s narration reinforces Jim’s character and narrative arcs as Jim takes back his agency in life.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Sound Reviews comes from Hachette Audio, and the audiobook edition of RELENTLESS by Luis A Miranda Jr, featuring a foreword read by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda. To find out more about this, and any other Hachette Audio productions, please visit www.hachetteaudio.com, or @HachetteAudio

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THE RED GROVE by Tessa Fontaine, read by Erin Moon

Thu, 30 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Erin Moon performs this debut novel set in the 1990s against the backdrop of the California redwoods. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of the Red Grove, a safe haven for women seeking refuge from patriarchal violence. Luce lives in the Red Grove with her mother, Gloria, and her little brother, Roo. When Gloria disappears, Luce is determined to find her and accidentally uncovers the Red Grove’s secret history. Moon maintains the tension in her voice throughout the audiobook, adding to the suspense of this twisty novel.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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EXHIBIT by R.O. Kwon, read by Ami Park, Sue Jean Kim

Wed, 29 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Ami Park, with additional narration from Sue Jean Kim, performs this engrossing novel from one of America’s rising literary stars. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of a photographer trying to make it as an artist in San Francisco. When she meets ballet dancer Lidija Jung, her entire world changes forever. Park’s performance keeps listeners on edge as we wonder what will become of this all-consuming affair.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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A PLACE IN TIME by Wendell Berry, read by Lyle Blaker

Tue, 28 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Lyle Blaker evokes the Appalachia of mid–twentieth century America in this short story collection by national treasure Wendell Berry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss these stories centered around the residents of the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky. Blaker makes the snapshots of the characters’ experiences feel alive in a new way. The way he performs the dialogue creates a unique voice for each character, and his performance of the descriptions of the landscape causes readers to feel like they are right there in the story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by ChristianAudio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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BITE BY BITE by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, read by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Mon, 27 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s voice is warm and inviting as she performs her essay collection celebrating all things food. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this intriguing follow-up to WORLD OF WONDERS. In each work, the author, who is Filipina and Malayali Indian, centers her thoughts on one of her favorite foods, giving listeners glimpses of her life. Nezhukumatathil’s narration is filled with such joyful enthusiasm for each food. Lychee, mango, jackfruit, rice, vanilla, waffles—all hold a special place in her heart.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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WELCOME TO THE HYUNAM-DONG BOOKSHOP by Hwang Bo-reum, Shanna Tan [Trans.], read by Rosa Escoda

Fri, 24 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Rosa Escoda’s narration of this slice-of-life audiobook is cozy, like being wrapped in a blanket still warm from the dryer. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Hwang Bo-reum’s story, translated by Shanna Tan, of a woman and her bookshop. Frustrated by her indifferent marriage and burned-out by her competitive career, Yeongju leaves both behind to open a bookstore that becomes a refuge to those seeking peace and renewal. Escoda’s brisk pace and gentle tone carry listeners along as Yeongju reconciles her childhood dream of owning a bookshop with the business of attracting and keeping customers. Escoda subtly calibrates her performance to make this story’s dreamlike mood irresistible.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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SOMEONE YOU CAN BUILD A NEST IN by John Wiswell, read by Carmen Rose

Thu, 23 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Carmen Rose narrates John Wiswell’s sapphic horror/romance with a sardonic wit that makes for an immersive listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this delightfully weird fantasy audiobook and Rose’s skilled narration. Shesheshen is a shape-shifting monster who, weary of devouring an endless line of hunters seeking to eradicate her kind, constructs a makeshift human body and infiltrates the human world. What she doesn't expect is to fall for Homily, a kindly human woman who is haunted by a family curse. Rose brings each character's traits to life—from Shesheshen's deadpan humor to Homily's earnest compassion—and performs fight scenes with a liveliness that transports listeners into the battles.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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Celebrating 30 Years of Naxos AudioBooks

Wed, 22 May 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Naxos AudioBooks with narrators David Timson and Rupert Degas. Naxos has been publishing their audiobooks with a focus on classic literature and classical music since 1994. Hear more about the extraordinary history of Naxos from narrators who have been with the publisher for decades. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the start of the publisher, favorite productions Timson and Degas have worked on, and their thoughts on some of the many talented actors recording audiobooks for Naxos, and the many people behind the scenes directing and producing them.

Read more about Naxos AudioBooks and their 30th anniversary in our article.

Today’s bonus episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. For more information on Naxos and their audiobook productions, visit their website: naxosaudiobooks.com/

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews at AudioFile’s website.

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LAKE OF SOULS by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh

Wed, 22 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Adjoa Andoh narrates a short story collection of speculative fiction by Ann Leckie. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this collection that includes works in the worlds of the Imperial Radch and the Raven Tower, as well as stand-alone pieces. Andoh’s stellar skills are on display in every piece, making the stories of gods, humans, and other assorted beings incredibly compelling. A stunning performance by a master narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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MAYBE THIS TIME by Cara Bastone, read by Zoë Chao, Noah Reid, Josh Hurley, and a Full Cast

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Zoë Chao and Noah Reid bring a delightful goofiness to this time-travel romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and talent that goes into Cara Bastone’s latest full-cast romance. Five years ago, June stumbled into a wormhole, falling decades into the future. When her ancient phone turns on and lets her make a call, she finds Mikey, her bewildered colleague from the past, on the other end. Chao sounds thrilled—and desperate—as June urges Mikey to keep past-June out of that wormhole. Reid gives Mikey warmth and openness as he connects with June in both timelines. As the stakes rise, listeners hear the pair’s growing urgency. You won’t want to put this one down.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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CANTO CONTIGO by Jonny Garza Villa, read by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz

Mon, 20 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Alejandro Antonio Ruiz embodies all of the roiling emotions in this compelling queer teen love story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Jonny Garza Villa’s dynamic audiobook and Ruiz’s skilled narration. Rafie learned his love of mariachi from his abuelo. He’s devastated when his abuelo dies yet is determined to bring home another first-place trophy from the Mariachi Extravaganza. But now he’s at a new school in San Antonio, and his new school already has a lead singer—Rey, the cute boy he met last year. Rafie’s intensity comes through clearly in Ruiz’s passionate narration. Ruiz yells, cries, whispers, laughs, and sings, revealing all the many layers to Rafie and Rey’s story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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LESSONS FOR SURVIVAL by Emily Raboteau, read by Emily Raboteau

Fri, 17 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Emily Raboteau reads with purpose, a clear voice, and a conversational tone that works well for the personal essays on “Mothering Against ‘the Apocalypse’” in this satisfying audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Raboteau moves her prose and delivery between her varied subjects; a sense of wonder at identifying birds, exasperation at dealing with New York City real estate, and empathy for a water-starved Palestinian family. The lessons in this text are hard earned and elegantly expressed.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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VICTIM by Andrew Boryga, read by Anthony Rey Perez

Thu, 16 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Anthony Rey Perez has just the right tone for this satirical debut novel, especially as he aptly mimics the protagonist’s self-justifying voice and truth twisting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Perez’s pace moves the story forward—no matter the circumstance. Javi Perez succeeds until he doesn’t by playing the victim “trifecta”: tragic circumstance (his drug-dealer father is gunned down); struggling economics; and being a person of color. This first-person novel about his rise and fall is compelling, and Anthony Rey Perez’s excellent narration makes it a memorable audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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AIRPLANE MODE by Shahnaz Habib, read by Deepa Samuel

Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Deepa Samuel reads crisply and does well with the various languages in this globe-spanning audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minksoff discuss how her carefully articulated style makes this history/memoir with travel stories vivid. The author, a Muslim Indian woman now living in Brooklyn, brings a unique point of view to this “irreverent history of travel.” As a woman of color, she has experienced what she describes as distinctly inferior treatment as compared to her white-skinned husband. She argues we are no longer travelers but, rather, tourists with iPhone cameras.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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CHASING HOPE by Nicholas D. Kristof, read by Nicholas D. Kristof

Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Nicholas Kristof delivers his monumental memoir—by turns harrowing (think gunfire, rats, Darfur) and inspiring (he mentors young journalists, starts a nonprofit, and champions rural America). Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Kristof’s thoughtful narration as he covers his long and distinguished career. He’s worked four decades as a reporter, foreign correspondent, bureau chief, and, indelibly, an opinion writer for THE NEW YORK TIMES. A compelling and satisfying audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE CEMETERY OF UNTOLD STORIES by Julia Alvarez, read by Alma Cuervo

Mon, 13 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Alma Cuervo’s warm, rich timbre and measured style suit Julia Alvarez’s captivating audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of an author with a magical twist. A novelist leaves Vermont and returns to her native Dominican Republic to bury her untold (unfinished) works. She creates a cemetery for the stories, and their imaginary characters take over. Alvarez has crafted a fantastical world, packed with local color and expressions, and Cuervo ensures that it’s enjoyable on audio.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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KNIFE by Salman Rushdie, read by Salman Rushdie

Fri, 10 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrating his own work, Salman Rushdie offers an emotionally resonant account of the shocking knife attack that almost ended his life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFIle’s Michele Cobb discuss his memoir of the attack, its immediate aftermath, and the difficult recovery. Interwoven throughout are musings on literature, writing, politics, friendship, religion, and more, delivered with passion and more than a little humor. Wide-ranging and deeply insightful, this meditation on life, love, and resilience makes for compelling listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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HERE AFTER by Amy Lin, read by Amy Lin

Thu, 09 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Amy Lin’s performance of her memoir is so staggeringly beautiful it will break your heart. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Lin’s story of loss. Lin’s husband Kurtis was running a virtual half-marathon when he dropped dead for no discoverable reason. He was 32 years old. She was left absolutely broken. She tells her memoir in vignettes of meeting and losing Kurtis, and her grief is so obviously raw and her memories of their life together so full of love that it’s astonishing the author was physically and emotionally able to read the work aloud. Lin teaches us, or reminds us, that sitting with someone in their sadness is far more helpful than a futile attempt to distract someone from their grief.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Zibby Books.

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BURN BOOK by Kara Swisher, read by Kara Swisher

Wed, 08 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Kara Swisher specializes in reporting on the Internet, and she narrates her memoir with urgency and focus. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this history of Silicon Valley from Swisher’s perspective. With more than a decade of podcasting experience, Swisher has developed a well-honed, rapid-fire delivery; an aura of journalistic integrity; and a firsthand knowledge of tech history. Swisher serves as the Valley's outlier conscience—fearful of the future and optimistically pessimistic.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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BITS AND PIECES by Whoopi Goldberg, read by Whoopi Goldberg

Tue, 07 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Entertainer Whoopi Goldberg’s raspy timbre and amused tone make her the only person appropriate to narrate her memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss what Michele calls an “audio must.” The story of Goldberg’s career is skillfully woven into anecdotes featuring her exceptional mother, Emma Johnson, and her unique older brother, Clyde. All will remain in listeners’ thoughts after hearing this singular memoir and performance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website, and hear from Whoopi herself in her video interview with Michele. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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GRIEF IS FOR PEOPLE by Sloane Crosley, read by Sloane Crosley

Mon, 06 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrating her memoir, Sloane Crosley delivers ironic humor that balances the horror of back-to-back traumas. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the bite that Crosley brings to her memoir. Admitting the unlikelihood and disorientation of what happened, Crosley links the vulnerability she felt at a burgled apartment and, a month later, at the suicide of her boss and friend, Russell Perrault. Crosley’s wit and sometimes witlessness are as reconcilable and relatable as her raw reactions and wishful imaginings.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE KAMOGAWA FOOD DETECTIVES by Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood [Trans.], read by Hanako Footman

Fri, 03 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Hanako Footman performs this quiet novel featuring Koishi and her father, Nagare. They run the Kamogawa Diner, a small restaurant on a side road in Kyoto. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Hisashi Kashiwai’s story of food and connections. Koishi and Nagare help customers find lost meals from their past, researching down to the most minute details. Footman’s narration captures the story’s cozy atmosphere and nostalgic tone as Nagare and Koishi track down each customer’s unique meal.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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MEMORY PIECE by Lisa Ko, read by Eunice Wong

Thu, 02 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Eunice Wong performs Lisa Ko’s novel about a decades-long friendship between three Asian American women. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss what Kendra calls one of the must-listens of the year. Giselle Chin, Chackie Ong, and Ellen Ng come of age in the ’80s and ’90s, trying to make their way in the world. Wong’s performance captures the friends’ perspectives, giving each a unique narrative voice. In Wong’s narration, one friend sounds brusque and efficient, while another’s voice is laid-back and easygoing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ALL THE WORLD BESIDE by Garrard Conley, read by Pete Cross, Garrard Conley

Wed, 01 May 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Pete Cross performs Garrard Conley’s debut novel of a star-crossed love affair. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this beautifully devastating story of love between minister Nathaniel Whitfield and physician Arthur Lyman in Puritan New England. Cross’s narration captures the intense relationship between the two men; he performs their dialogue with deep emotion. As the two men’s families begin to suspect their secret, Cross imbues his performance with tension, communicating both families’ anxiety and feelings of helplessness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR by Morgan Parker, read by Morgan Parker

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Writer Morgan Parker, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, performs her collection of essays that revolve around religious trauma, mental health, racial justice, and life as a single person in America. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this intimate collection. Parker’s performance expresses her complex feelings, giving her ideas additional emotional weight. A beautiful example of the magic that can happen when an author personally performs her essays.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

This episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. Revisit beloved characters and discover new original short stories. Visions of Flesh and Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout with Rayvn Salvador is a must-add addition to the series that any fan will enjoy. Audible.com/VisionsofFleshandBlood

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THE REDISCOVERY OF AMERICA by Ned Blackhawk, read by Jason Grasl

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Jason Grasl performs Ned Blackhawk’s National Book Award-winning history of the Native peoples of what is now known as the United States. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this sweeping work that illuminates the histories of Indigenous peoples, from contact with early conquistadors of New Spain to the Indigenous activists of the mid-twentieth century. A must-listen for any history lover.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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HARVEST HOUSE by Cynthia Leitich Smith, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Charley Flyte

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Shaun Taylor-Corbett seamlessly narrates the majority of this haunted novel with a masterful assist by Charley Flyte. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a magical addition to Cynthia Leitich Smith’s young adult novels. Hughie Wolfe, an avid actor, is asked to volunteer at a Halloween haunted house near the crossroads of his small Kansas town. Hughie and a group of friends have begun to learn of odd happenings and intimidating ghostly presences at the crossroads, and they start investigating to find the truth. On Halloween the haunted house and the spirits of the past collide. Hughie’s thoughtful nature shines through in Taylor-Corbett’s narration, and Flyte’s ethereal voice shines at the story’s dramatic climax.

Be sure to listen to Jo Reed’s conversation with Cynthia Leitich Smith and Shaun Taylor-Corbett on our bonus edition of Behind the Mic.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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A TEMPEST OF TEA by Hafsah Faizal, read by Maya Saroya

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Maya Saroya gives an expressive performance in Hafsah Faizal’s thrilling YA historical fantasy filled with vampires, action, romance, and tea. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this compelling story set in a richly built world packed with secrets—performed beautifully. Saroya portrays Arthie Casimir in a smooth, deadly tone that highlights her fierce determination to protect those she loves. Arthie’s an outsider in Etenia, but she’s created a safe haven in her tearoom, Spindrift, where her crew serves tea by day and blood to vampires under the cover of night. Saroya moves easily into the points of view of Jin, Arthie’s charming yet deadly brother, and Flick, a forger whose voice reveals her upper-crust background.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THERE'S ALWAYS THIS YEAR by Hanif Abdurraqib, read by Hanif Abdurraqib

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest book is a transcendent feat of poetry, memoir, and—well, magic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Abdurraqib’s mesmerizing narration and rich writing. His narration is as breathless and beautiful as his prose, and you can hear the love in his voice as he performs it. It’s an ode to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; a love letter to basketball; a meditation on home and belonging; and an exploration of faith, Blackness, music, and place. He delivers every word as if it is a matter of life and death. A masterpiece from one of America’s most creative, generous, and rigorous living writers. Don’t miss it.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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FUNNY STORY by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan performs Emily Henry’s funny story, much like a Shakespearean comedy is a funny story, of a woman who falls in love with her ex-fiancé’s new girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the joy of getting to hear another excellent Emily Henry and Julia Whelan audiobook pairing. When Daphne’s fiance, Peter, realizes he’s in love with his formerly platonic best friend, Petra, just days before their wedding, Daphne’s world falls apart. Desperate for a place to live, she moves in with Petra’s also devastated ex, Miles. The two start a tentative friendship and Daphne finds that there is much to love in this small town—including Miles.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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GRETA & VALDIN by Rebecca K. Reilly, read by Natalie Beran, Jackson Bliss, Eilidh Beaton, Nico Evers-Swindell, Gary Furlong

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Natalie Beran and Jackson Bliss portray queer Russian-Maori siblings Greta and Valdin in this wise, hilarious novel about a loving and chaotic New Zealand family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Rebecca K. Reilly’s novel, now released in the U.S. Beran depicts Greta, a 20-something PhD student in a perky, wry tone that is dripping with millennial angst. Bliss narrates Valdin’s sections with a mix of earnestness and detachment. A year after being dumped by his boyfriend, he’s just (maybe) starting to get his life back on track. The narrators’ varied New Zealand accents and ease with snappy dialogue make every moment of this joyful audiobook a pleasure.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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REZ BALL by Byron Graves, read by Jesse Nobess

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a celebrated YA novel that is featured in AudioFile’s new Audiobook Club. Narrator Jesse Nobess establishes a determined voice for high school sophomore Tre Brun. After losing his older brother who was a star on their high school basketball team, he finds his own passion for the game. Nobess captures Tre’s emotions as he pushes himself to reach his maximum potential on the court, where he feels pressure to succeed not only for himself, but also for his family and his Ojibwe community. Stay tuned for more information about AudioFile’s new audiobook club this summer. Listeners, especially sports enthusiasts, will cheer Tre on through the tumultuous and unforgettable basketball season.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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CROSSROAD BLUES by Ace Atkins, read by Dion Graham

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham, with his ability to tap into a wide variety of voices, is the right pick for Ace Atkins’s blues-heavy novel first published in 1998. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Dion’s skill at voicing this blues-infused noir mystery. Nick Travers is a former pro football player turned blues historian at Tulane University in Louisiana. He’s sent to find a missing music professor, and the mission gets messy. Graham’s stellar narration helps listeners keep the many characters straight, going beyond different voices and pacing to vary entire dialects. A first-rate performance by a first-rate narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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CHASING BEAUTY by Natalie Dykstra, read by Maggi-Meg Reed

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

The privileged world of the spirited Isabella Stewart Gardner is aptly captured by the patrician voice of narrator Maggi-Meg Reed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this fascinating biography by Natalie Dykstra. Reed’s careful pacing and expression elicit genuine admiration for the eccentric and sometimes scandalous Isabella. Gardner leaves as her legacy the Fenway Court building, now the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, famous for its interior Venetian palazzo, eclectic collections, and of course, the still unsolved art heist.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE HUNTER by Tana French, read by Roger Clark

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Roger Clark gives a thrilling performance of Tana French’s newest novel set in a ferociously insular Irish village. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this sequel to THE SEARCHER, continuing the story of Cal Hooper, a retired Chicago police detective in a town that makes its own law. Clark’s Irish dialogue is so rich and musical it’s addictive, but his American voice for Hooper is flawless as well, and his pacing, attention, and sympathy do splendid justice to this riveting story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE AMERICAN DAUGHTERS by Maurice Carlos Ruffin, read by Lynnette R. Freeman

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

An inspiring original story gets a five-star narration from Lynnette R. Freeman. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s Civil War-era novel shines with Freeman’s narration. Sanite and her daughter, Ady, run from the brutality of John du Marche’s slave labor camp—also known as a plantation. Separated when Sanite is recaptured, Ady endures hardship alone in the woods until she’s eventually befriended by a free woman who runs a secret organization called “The Daughters.” Freeman delivers the tension, relief, dangers, and hope felt by these remarkable women.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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TABLE FOR TWO by Amor Towles, read by Edoardo Ballerini, J. Smith-Cameron

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s narration of Amor Towles’s newest short story collection. By turns nuanced and dramatic, Golden Voice Ballerini uses his full range of techniques always in service of the author’s fine prose. His smart pace and rich tone work particularly well for the noir novella set in late 1930s Hollywood. Ballerini shines in the opening work, “New York: The Line,” about an average Russian, named Pushkin, who has a gift for helping others with Russia’s long food lines. These stories have Towles’s touch: finely detailed characters, distinct settings, and deserved comeuppances.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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PARASOL AGAINST THE AXE by Helen Oyeyemi, read by Dorje Swallow

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Dorje Swallow’s performance of Helen Oyeyemi’s metafiction centers this whirligig of a novel in which story begets story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Swallow’s assured narration—in particular, his ability to do voices and accents and adapt his tone to whatever the scene—makes this audiobook marvelous to listen to. Hero Tojosoa ostensibly comes to Prague to join her friend, Sophie, for a weekend. When Dorothea arrives as well, the plot thickens, spatters, and all manner of mayhem ensues.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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GREAT EXPECTATIONS by Vinson Cunningham, read by Aaron Goodson

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Aaron Goodson performs Vinson Cunningham’s coming-of-age novel in a conversational manner. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Goodson’s pleasing narrative style. His pensive tone works for the narrator and protagonist, David Hammons, the well-read but adrift young man who finds himself working as a fundraising assistant in the 2008 presidential election for the unnamed African American senator from Illinois. It’s a finely crafted story that includes smart and nuanced riffs on religion, money in politics, and life on the campaign trail. His observations create a timely listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE MORNINGSIDE by Téa Obreht, read by Carlotta Brentan

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Carlotta Brentan narrates this near-future dystopian novel set in a time of ecological disaster in the mostly underwater community of Island City. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Téa Obreht’s newest novel. Brentan portrays the cast of characters smartly by subtly shifting tone, cadence, and timbre. The once stately Morningside building is now home to “repopulated” folks who are part of a government program. Mysteries shroud this imaginative work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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In Conversation with Cynthia Leitich Smith and Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed welcomes author Cynthia Leitich Smith and narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett for a lively conversation about making memorable audiobooks for children and young adults. Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee citizen) is a highly acclaimed author for young readers and curator for Heartdrum, a Native American-focused imprint from HarperCollins. Shaun Taylor-Corbett (Blackfeet) is a frequent narrator of audiobooks from Heartdrum, including Cynthia’s most recent, HARVEST HOUSE. Listen in to hear Cynthia and Shaun talk about the audiobooks they’ve collaborated on and the importance of showing true representation of Native kids and teens in books and audiobooks.

Read reviews of Cynthia Leitich Smith’s audiobooks at our website, where you can discover more audiobooks narrated by Shaun Taylor-Corbett as well.

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WANDERING STARS by Tommy Orange, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett, MacLeod Andrews, Alma Cuervo, Curtis Michael Holland, Calvin Joyal, Phil Ava, Emmanuel Chumaceiro, Christian Young, Charley Flyte

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

This audiobook reveals that Tommy Orange is among the most insightful novelists writing today and a poet of pain. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this immersive novel set in Oakland that makes for a powerful listening experience. Among the segmented novel’s stellar performances, Charley Flyte’s reading of Victoria Bear Shield’s dramatic monologue to her unborn daughter is a tour de force—a haunting performance with an expressive tone and intimate voice. Alma Cuervo portrays Jacquie Red Feather and Victoria—the unborn infant, now a grandmother—with candor, compassion, and a thoughtful pace.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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FOURTEEN DAYS by The Authors Guild, read by Shayna Small

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Shayna Small delivers a variety of accents as a group of New Yorkers gather on their rooftop during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, telling stories to pass the time. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Small’s skills as she narrates a wide range of characters, emotions, and stories. Her narration shines in this reinterpretation of another plague novel, Boccaccio’s DECAMERON, written in the fourteenth century as bubonic plague raced across Europe. The Author’s Guild brought together 36 authors to write this well woven group of tales, including Margaret Atwood, Dave Eggers, Celeste Ng, Tommy Orange and more.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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ONE OF OUR OWN by Lucinda Berry, read by A.J. Cook, Tessa Albertson

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator A.J. Cook utilizes her considerable acting skills in portraying divorce lawyer, single mother, and suicide hotline volunteer Felicia, whose life was forever changed by her sister’s suicide. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this short but impactful audio thriller. Actress Tess Albertson matches Cook in talent as she portrays Chloe, a teenager who calls Felicia’s helpline. Cook masterfully portrays Felicia’s desperation to save Chloe from suicide and avoid potential retaliatory violence while managing her own memories and secrets.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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MAKE POSSIBILITIES HAPPEN by Grace Hawthorne, Stanford d.school, read by Grace Hawthorne, Scott Doorley

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Grace Hawthorne presents the chapters of her intelligent guide with appealing assertiveness while a Stanford colleague delivers brief segments with equal authority and charm. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook on turning your ideas into reality. After convincing listeners that they can train their brains to think expansively, Hawthorne dives into the explicit steps one can take to get projects started and to keep the momentum going when inevitable frustrations and distractions pull one off task. The insights about promoting innovative projects and the hacks that are offered for materializing ideas are priceless.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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I HEARD HER CALL MY NAME by Lucy Sante, read by Lucy Sante

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Lucy Sante narrates her intimate and poignant memoir of her transition, delivering vignettes from her life with authenticity. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Lucy’s story. Lucy realized early in her life that she was female, but it was not until her sixties in 2021 that she transitioned and shared her news with her friends. Her lifelong success as a writer comes through in her near-poetic storytelling without being saccharine. Listeners will hear her comfort in her identity, and the joy in her new life is lovely.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

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THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN MEANINGS by RuPaul, read by RuPaul

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Pop culture drag star RuPaul’s candid warmth is an invitation to accompany him as he discovers fame, love, and his unvarnished self. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this origin story from the mother of all drag queens. His soft narration opens with sensory details that evoke the power of memory, and his gentle voice allows listeners to enter early scenes of his life. Listeners learn of his family, discovering his “secret girl” at the age of 12, and his struggles for acceptance within the drag community.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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OURS by Phillip B. Williams, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt performs this multigenerational novel set over several decades in the American South. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this debut novel from poet Phillip B. Williams. In the 1830s, a mysterious woman named Saint frees enslaved people from plantations and brings them to a town they call Ours, where they find a safe haven from the rest of the world. But when Saint tightens her control of the townspeople, they begin to wonder what it means to be a free Black person in America. Abbott-Pratt’s cadence enthralls listeners, giving weight to this sweeping epic. Her performance is a stunning example of a masterful narrator at her best.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THIS AMERICAN EX-WIFE by Lyz Lenz, read by Lyz Lenz

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Lyz Lenz narrates her memoir about the end of her marriage and the start of her new life as an “ex-wife.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook that alternates between Lenz’s own story of divorce and freedom, and her research on women experiencing divorce. While Lenz had been told that the end of her marriage would be the end of her family, she soon discovered that leaving her unhappy marriage gave her more fulfillment and love than she ever had before. Lenz’s informal and personable delivery works well.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THE WARM HANDS OF GHOSTS by Katherine Arden, read by Michael Crouch, January LaVoy, Katherine Arden

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy and Michael Crouch perform Katherine Arden’s historical novel with a supernatural twist. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss one of the must-listen audiobooks of the season. LaVoy delivers the perspective of Laura, a nurse who has recently returned from a WWI battlefield to her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Crouch narrates as Laura’s brother, Freddie, a young soldier who has gone missing in Belgium. LaVoy conveys all of Laura's anguish when she receives word that her brother is missing. Crouch captures Freddie’s long hours trekking through the mud, shell-shocked and beyond all hope of getting out of the war alive. A moving and captivating audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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DINNER ON MONSTER ISLAND by Tania De Rozario, read by Tania De Rozario

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Tania De Rozario performs her essay collection, which revolves around her experience growing up as a fat mixed-race queer girl in Singapore. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how De Rozario’s audiobook is a gem of queer literature. De Rozario narrates each of her essays with emotional depth and understanding, giving grace to her past self while simultaneously acknowledging the growth she has experienced over time.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THE BOOK OF LOVE by Kelly Link, read by January LaVoy

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy performs this epic story of three teenagers who are brought back from the dead just long enough to compete in a mysterious game to see who gets to continue to live. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this debut novel by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, who is better known for her short story collections. Here, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves back in Lovesend, Massachusetts, one year after they died. LaVoy captures whimsy and darkness in equal measure, spinning this fairytale-like story into an engrossing audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Meet Alan Minskoff - Celebrating 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s celebrating 1500 episodes of our Behind the Mic podcast. Today host Jo Reed talks with Alan Minskoff, a longtime AudioFile reviewer who has excellent insights into audiobooks. Alan tells Jo about how he fits audiobooks into his busy weeks as he commutes to his work at the College of Idaho. He loves to feature audiobooks on food, the environment, and history and the occasional literary fiction on Behind the Mic.

AudioFile’s podcast honors the work and dedication to the craft of making excellent audiobooks, and features the best in audiobooks each week. Read more about AudioFile Magazine and discover thousands of audiobook reviews at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Meet Kendra Winchester - Celebrating 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re honoring the 1500th episodes of Behind the Mic podcast with spotlights on each of our contributors. Today host Jo Reed talks with Kendra Winchester, who reviews for AudioFile and shares many insights into fascinating audiobooks here on the podcast and as a contributing editor for Book Riot. Kendra tells Jo about her audiobook listening, her favorite genres to enjoy, and how she picks her features for the podcast. She often highlights new literary fiction, essays, and memoirs, and has a keen ear for excellent audiobooks.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Meet Emily Connelly - Celebrating 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

We’re celebrating AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast all week with highlights of our contributors. Listen in to hear host Jo Reed in discussion with AudioFile’s Assistant Editor, Emily Connelly. She tells Jo about when she started listening to audiobooks, her work since she started at AudioFile, and how her love of audiobooks helps her on the podcast and in her role at the library. She’s always happy to talk about what she’s listening to, whether it’s a new favorite family listen or a fascinating science fiction world to get lost in.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Meet Michele Cobb - Celebrating 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is celebrating our 1500th episode of Behind the Mic with highlights of each of our contributors. Today host Jo Reed is talking with AudioFile’s Publisher, Michele Cobb. Listen in to hear all about Michele’s work in the world of audiobooks and podcasts, what she loves about the Behind the Mic podcast, and what she looks for in her next featured audiobook. When Michele’s on the podcast, you can bet there will be a juicy celebrity memoir or buzzy new audiobook to discuss!

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Celebrating 1500 Episodes of Behind the Mic with Robin Whitten

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Happy 1500 episodes to AudioFile’s Behind the Mic Podcast! We’re celebrating this milestone all week long by highlighting each of our podcast contributors. Today host Jo is talking with AudioFile’s Editor and founder, Robin Whitten. They talk about all the fun and work that goes into recording 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic, their favorite episodes, and their shared love for mystery audiobooks.

AudioFile’s podcast honors the work and dedication to the craft of making excellent audiobooks and features the best in audiobooks each week. Read more about AudioFile Magazine and discover thousands of audiobook reviews at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT AND MAYHEM by Roseanne A. Brown, read by Soneela Nankani

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Soneela Nanknai’s talents are in full force in this monstrous and magical fantasy series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Roseanne A Brown’s thrilling sequel to SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING. Serwa has discovered a shocking secret—she’s an obayifo, a vampire witch, just like those she’s spent her life training to fight. Nankani’s dynamic voice and boundless energy match the action and Serwa’s roiling emotions as she goes into hiding to train with her obayifo aunt. She conveys all the drama as Serwa fights the newfound urge to drink blood, plans a dangerous heist, realizes she has a huge crush, and travels to the underworld.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Disney Hyperion.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THE FRIENDSHIP STUDY by Ruby Barrett, read by André Santana, Meg Sylvan

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

André Santana and Meg Sylvan narrate this friends-to-lovers romance with compassion and full-hearted emotion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of two lonely people finding friendship and love where they least expect it. Santana’s thoughtful narration gives us insights into former firefighter Jesse’s anxiety and warm heart. Lulu’s a history professor living in her parents’ house, and Sylvan’s voice expresses both Lulu’s infectious enthusiasm and self doubt. When Lulu and Jesse enroll in a psychology study on making friends, their attraction happens fast—despite the study’s strict ban on dating. Santana and Sylvan’s narrations highlight the rich emotionality of the story as Lulu and Jesse find their way forward in this steamy romance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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FAEBOUND by Saara El-Arifi, read by Bahni Turpin

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Bahni Turpin narrates Saara El-Arifi’s high fantasy tale that’s laced with romance and danger. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly dive into the story of Black elves, fae, and magic. After banishment by their chieftain, elven sisters Yeeran and Lettle wind up prisoners in fae lands and must adapt if they hope to survive. Turpin portrays Yeeran as a battle-hardened warrior, proud and energetic, while Lettle is a diviner, passionate and inquisitive. The sisters uncover surprising truths that upend their understanding of the world, and both discover threads of romance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT by T. Kingfisher, read by Avi Roque

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Avi Roque conveys all the creeping horror of T. Kingfisher’s sequel to WHAT MOVES THE DEAD. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Roque’s skilled narration of this fantastical horror story. Alex Easton, a retired soldier, travels to their family’s hunting lodge in their damp and unwelcoming home country, Gallacia. Alex discovers the lodge cold and empty and learns that the caretaker has died under mysterious circumstances. Roque lightly voices Alex’s humor and dry wit, ramping up the terror with a quickened pace and dramatic flair as Alex’s dreams become haunted by spectral creatures.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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WILD LIFE by Opal Wei, read by Natalie Naudus

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

Natalie Naudus narrates a spirited romance loosely inspired by the classic screwball comedy “Bringing Up Baby.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this fun romance by Opal Wei that’s centered around two chaotic characters. Zoey Fong’s always lived her life guided by The Plan . . . until she meets Davy Hsieh and he upends almost every aspect of it. Naudus’s portrayal of Zoey highlights her focus and goal-oriented mindset, while her portrayal of Davy accents his laid-back and easygoing nature. One mistake has Zoey rethinking her life while stuck on an island with Davy—and Baby, his semi-tame cougar. Naudus’s delightful performance highlights the inherent joy and lightness in Zoey and Davy’s budding relationship and makes for a truly enjoyable experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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AudioFile Favorites: VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

We’ve been celebrating the 2024 Audie Awards all week long on Behind the Mic. Today we’re wrapping up our coverage by highlighting our episode about this year’s Best Mystery Audiobook winner, VERA WONG’S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS, written by Jesse Q. Sutanto and read by Eunice Wong. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb have a discussion about how Wong’s brisk performance makes this funny mystery one you won’t want to miss on audio.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Discover more about the Audie Awards at AudioFile’s website and see the full list of the 2024 Audie Awards finalists and winners.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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AudioFile Favorites: IT. GOES. SO. FAST.

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is celebrating the 2024 Audie Awards all this week, and today we’re featuring this year’s winner in the Narration by the Author category: NPR anchor Mary Louise Kelly for her memoir IT. GOES. SO. FAST: A Year of No Do-Overs. Listen in as host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Kelly’s captivating narration of her book about the challenging life of a working parent.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

See the full list of the 2024 Audie Awards finalists and winners and discover more about the Audie Awards at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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AudioFile Favorites: KING: A LIFE

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

We’re celebrating the 2024 Audie Awards all this week. Today we’re honoring the winner of the inaugural Best Non-Fiction Narrator award, Golden Voice Dion Graham for KING: A LIFE, by Jonathan Eig. In fact, Dion narrated a whopping three finalists in this category! On today’s episode, we’re sharing a discussion between host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff about this moving biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which Graham narrates superbly.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Discover more about the Audie Awards at AudioFile’s website.

See the full list of the 2024 Audie Awards finalists and winners.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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AudioFile Favorites: SURRENDER

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine is celebrating the 2024 Audie Awards all this week. Today’s episode is all about this year’s Audiobook of the Year award winner — SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story, written and read by Bono. Listen in on an earlier episode with host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discussing this memoir that blends Bono’s words with singing, music, and sound effects to make for a fascinating listening experience. If you missed the live event, you can visit the APA YouTube to catch all of the Audies livestream.

Discover more about the Audie Awards at AudioFile’s website.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

See the full list of the 2024 Audie Awards finalists and winners.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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Celebrating the 2024 Audie Awards

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb get together to talk all things Audie Awards! This year the Audies are in L.A. and will be celebrated with an in-person gala event, and with a livestream that audiobook lovers can watch from the comfort of their home. Listen in as Jo and Michele discuss some of the changes to the Audies this year and give their insights into the new Best Non-Fiction Narrator and Best Fiction Narrator awards. Follow along with the Audie Awards ceremony tonight.

And see the full list of this year’s finalists at the APA website.

Discover more about the Audie Awards at AudioFile’s website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan, Kristin Hannah

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:54:00 -0000

The sure touch of Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan transforms Kristen Hannah’s absorbing novel about Vietnam War combat nurses into an addictive listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this intimate portrait and sprawling account of a searing time. The story focuses on 20-year-old Frances McGrath, who, in 1965, impetuously chooses the Army Nurse Corps over cotillions and marriage. As the novel interweaves historical research with the characters’ Vietnam and post-war lives, Whelan’s intensity and warmth help listeners empathize with the personal and understand the big picture.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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THE NIGHT SHE LIED by Lucy Dawson, read by Rachel Atkins

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rachel Atkins is a gift. Her performance of Lucy Dawson’s suspenseful psychological thriller will seep into listeners’ consciousness. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about this listen that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Atkins’s talents are showcased immediately in the opening scene in which the protagonist, Jude, stands in a courtroom, awaiting the jury’s decision about her fate. Jude is charged with the murder of a new suitor, Rik, who has a disturbing past with her mother.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Dreamscape Publishing, an independent audiobook publisher, produces and publishes award-winning and bestselling titles, including those from Lisa Jewell, Jeneva Rose, and Annie Ernaux. For more information and to see Dreamscape’s entire catalog, visit dreamscapepublishing.com.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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WHAT WILD WOMEN DO by Karma Brown, read by Karissa Vacker, Hillary Huber

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Karissa Vacker and Hillary Huber deliver excellent performances in this gripping audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss an audiobook that evokes themes of empowerment, personal growth, and discovery. The story, set in the Adirondacks, depicts emotional insights and decades-spanning intrigue. Vacker voices failed screenwriter Rowan, who discovers a mysterious handbook that may have something to do with a woman who went missing in the woods. Huber voices Eddie, the rich-girl hippie who started a women’s retreat center nearby in the 1970s and then disappeared without a trace.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Dreamscape Publishing, an indie audiobook publisher, creates award-winning and bestselling titles by authors like Lisa Jewell, Jeneva Rose, and Annie Ernaux. Explore their catalog at dreamscapepublishing.com.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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AUGUST WILSON by Patti Hartigan, read by Dion Graham, Patti Hartigan [Afterword]

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham narrates this biography of playwright and poet August Wilson. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Graham excels at performing both as storyteller and actor, for this biography contains not only narrative but also passages from some of his plays. His rich voice carries the biography along nicely, but it is when he recites lines from plays such as FENCES and quotations from figures in Wilson’s past that Graham really shines. The audiobook is an enlightening look at Wilson’s life and the forces and people that shaped his plays.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/AUDIOFILE and get on your way to being your best self.

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CAHOKIA JAZZ by Francis Spufford, read by Andy Ingalls

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Andy Ingalls’s narration of a literary detective novel. Ingalls delivers all the nuances of a full cast in Spufford’s story set in an alternate universe. In an authoritative tone, Ingalls brings to life Cahokia, located on the banks of the Mississippi. In the novel, this ancient Indigenous society lives on in the 1920s, seeming to flourish in its diversity. But when Barrow discovers a mutilated body, the community’s facade of racial coexistence is exposed. Ingalls is the perfect guide for this complex world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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THE MYSTERIOUS CASE OF THE ALPERTON ANGELS by Janice Hallett, read by Kristin Atherton, Annie Aldington, Nneka Okoye, Gareth Armstrong, Sid Sagar

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Janice Hallett’s marvelous tale unfolds through a series of emails complete with verbal emojis— a narrator’s challenge. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this mystery about an investigation of a cult—the Alperton Angels. Kristin Atherton gives a smackdown performance as journalist and true-crime author Amanda Bailey. The narrators all help build up the tension at the heart of this mystery. A superbly choreographed performance and unforgettable ending.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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ABOVE THE FIRE by Michael O'Donnell, read by Robert Fass

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Fass captures the natural interplay between a father and son during an emotional struggle for survival. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Michael O’Donnell’s story of a mountain excursion in New Hampshire. Eight-year-old Tim and his father, Doug, are reeling from the recent death of Tim's mother. News of an unidentified national catastrophe forces the two hikers to seek refuge rather than risk traveling home. Fass demonstrates skill in his voicing of quiet moments of tenderness and the suspense of mounting threats.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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KILL SHOW by Daniel Sweren-Becker, read by Megan Tusing, Desmond Manny, Pun Bandhu, Melissa Redmond, Byron Wagner, Christine Lakin, Stacy Gonzalez, Xe Sands, Fred Sanders, Sara Morsey, Chris McLinden, Robert Fass

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

An ensemble of wildly talented narrators elevates Daniel Sweren-Becker’s fictional true-crime case, told through first-person interviews. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a full-cast narration that takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride. The narrators infuse a generous amount of personality and empathy into their portrayals of the community, media, and family involved in the tragic case of a missing teenager. A compelling audio with a winning combination of narrators.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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FIRST LIE WINS by Ashley Elston, read by Saskia Maarleveld

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Listeners will be convinced there’s a full cast delivering this fast-paced thriller from Ashley Elston. Yet it’s just one narrator, Saskia Maarleveld, who masterfully voices all of the characters. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss another thrilling mystery. Evie Porter has many names and personas she has adopted for her work for the mysterious Mr. Smith. The narrative goes back and forth in time, revealing the successful and disastrous assignments that have landed her in a small town in Louisiana, where she’s building a loving relationship with her next target. The twists and turns will keep listeners glued to their earbuds all the way to the satisfying conclusion.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ANNA O by Matthew Blake, read by Dan Stevens, Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, Christine Rendel

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, and Christine Rendel, led by the incomparable Dan Stevens, skillfully deliver this extraordinary twisty novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb Discuss Matthew Blake’s new murder mystery. One night, Anna Ogilvy, a young wannabe writer, inexplicably stabs two people to death while sleepwalking. She hasn’t woken up since the crime. Now Anna’s psychiatrist, Ben, must wake her. Stevens delivers the portrayal of Ben with a cool reserve, allowing the listener's imagination to lock onto this remarkable mystery. Curtis, Cullum, and Rendel also enhance this unreal-seeming but plausible story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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ENDANGERED EATING by Sarah Lohman, read by Sarah Lohman

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Sarah Lohman is an effective narrator of her thoughtful audiobook about vanishing foods. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Lohman narrates with a pointed reportorial style and measured cadence that suit her text. Lohman’s forays take her to the Salish Sea to work reef-caught salmon; to a Navajo reservation to help butcher the unique four-horned sheep called Churro; and to Ohio, where she learns about Buckeye chicken. She’s an intrepid eater and energetic narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE LAST FIRE SEASON by Manjula Martin, read by Manjula Martin

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Manjula Martin delivers her “personal and pyronatural history” as if reading to a friend. She captures the complications of living in proximity to wildfires in Sonoma County, California, which was devastated by conflagrations in 2020. Her story is part memoir of illness and part accounting of living with massive wildfires and the pandemic. Listeners will learn about the fire itself as well: how it works and how those who deal with it study it, combat it, and learn from it.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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GET THE PICTURE by Bianca Bosker, read by Bianca Bosker

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Bianca Bosker narrates her witty audiobook—a remarkable experiential romp through the rarefied air of the contemporary art world—with pizzazz. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Bosker comes across as an authentic seeker and enthusiastic learner as she participates in performance art, stretches canvases, hangs out with gallerists and painters, sells art at a posh art fair, and more. Performing in a comic style, she enhances the audiobook’s ironic undertone which suggests that many in the art world see journalists as “the enemy.” An engaging listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ALL THE WAYS WE LIED by Aida Zilelian, read by Vaneh Assadourian

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Vaneh Assadourian delivers this novel about a dysfunctional Armenian American family in a knowing style and understanding tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Aida Zilelian’s novel of three daughters and their struggles. Kohar, the eldest, had trouble with fertility; Lucine’s husband takes her money and disappears; and Azad, the youngest, seems lost and incapable of relationships. Assadourian adroitly captures the clipped angry tone of Takouhi, their matriarch. Together their stories create a tapestry of family life and loss.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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TRUE NORTH by Andrew J. Graff, read by Lincoln Hoppe

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Lincoln Hoppe demonstrates his skill with a stellar narration of Andrew J. Graff’s immersive novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Hoppe’s ability to subtly shift in tone and tempo from character to character, making this audiobook stand out. In a work with some high-adrenaline white water scenes, Hoppe controls the most intense action. Set in northern Wisconsin in the fictional town of Thunderwater, the story follows a couple’s travails after they leave Chicago to run a rafting company.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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YOUR UTOPIA by Bora Chung, Anton Hur [Trans.], read by Greta Jung

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Greta Jung performs this collection of science fiction short stories from National Book Award finalist duo Bora Chung and translator Anton Hur. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how these whimsical stories also possess great depth. In one story, an elevator falls in love with one of the residents in its building. In another, a robot tries to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have almost gone extinct. Jung narrates the audiobook with a deep understanding of the characters in every story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AGAINST TECHNOABLEISM by Ashley Shew, read by Maria Pendolino

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a collection of essays that centers around Dr. Ashley Shew’s concept of technoableism, a type of ableist belief that technology can, and should, “cure” disabled people. Maria Pendolino narrates and keeps listeners’ attention during technical descriptions while also capturing the emotional heart of Shew’s essays. Shew uses her experience as a chronically ill, hard-of-hearing cancer survivor and amputee to illustrate how technology helps assist her in her everyday life. Listeners will find Pendolino’s clear and direct narration style perfect for better understanding new ideas and concepts about technology and disability studies.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Discover the award-winning and bestselling audiobooks crafted by Dreamscape Publishing, an independent publisher, featuring acclaimed authors such as Lisa Jewell, Jeneva Rose, and Annie Ernaux. Delve into their collection at dreamscapepublishing.com.

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SEX WITH A BRAIN INJURY by Annie Liontas, read by Natalie Naudus

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Natalie Naudus performs this memoir about the author’s experience with a traumatic brain injury and its intense aftereffects. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Naudus’s narration enhances an already engrossing story, creating a brilliantly unique listening experience. Annie Liontas receives three concussions in one year, and afterward Liontas grapples with migraines, memory loss, and sensitivity to light and sound. Their relationship with their wife deteriorates, and they begin talking about divorce. Naudus narrates Liontas’s story with a deep understanding of the emotional depth of the memoir.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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DIVINE MIGHT by Natalie Haynes, read by Natalie Haynes

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In her latest book of essays, Haynes gives a new, more feminist, perspective on many of the goddesses of Greek mythology—including major figures like Athene, Hera, Demeter, Hestia, and Aphrodite. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Haynes balances the emotional weight of the stories with a warm and welcoming conversational style. She discusses their roles and how society has viewed them throughout history. Haynes asks listeners to examine our more traditional assumptions about these goddesses and how patriarchal structures inspired our notions about them.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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COME AND GET IT by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Nicole Lewis performs this sophomore novel from Booker longlisted author Kiley Reid. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester talk about how Reid excels at writing dialogue, and Lewis’s performance of those conversations takes them to a whole new level. Millie Cousins is a senior resident assistant at the University of Arkansas with big dreams, and when a visiting professor and journalist offers her money in exchange for eavesdropping on her dorm’s residents, she takes the risk. As the drama around this college dorm twists and turns, Lewis’s narration keeps listeners enraptured until the very end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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IRIS KELLY DOESN'T DATE by Ashley Herring Blake, read by Kristen DiMercurio

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Kristen DiMercurio returns triumphantly as narrator of the third Bright Falls romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this excellent conclusion to Ashley Herring Blake’s series. Romance writer Iris Kelly is single, and that’s how she likes it — but she’s struggling to find inspiration for her next book. When she meets Stevie Scott, a cute aspiring thespian with generalized anxiety disorder, they have a disastrous hookup. Life gets more complex when Iris and Stevie end up not only as the leads in a play directed by Stevie’s ex girlfriend but also playing fake girlfriends in real life. DiMercurio gets all of the complicated emotions just right as Stevie and Iris catch real feelings and fall in love.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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DON'T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND by Emma R. Alban, read by Mary Jane Wells, Morag Sims

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Two debutantes scheme to get their parents to marry only to stumble into love themselves in this romp of an audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this fun new historical romance from Emma R. Alban with warm and energetic narrations from Mary Jane Wells and Morag Sims. It’s 1857, and London’s season is about to begin. Wells voices Beth, who is full of unsteady emotion as she enters London society—she must find a suitable match or she and her mother won’t have a home. Sims’s lively voice suits the rowdy Gwen, who takes Beth under her wing. When they spy possible feelings between their parents, they begin to plot, but as they spend more time together, they discover feelings for each other that go deeper than friendship.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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A ROYAL CONUNDRUM: The Misfits, Book 1 by Lisa Yee, read by Cindy Kay

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Cindy Kay narrates Lisa Yee’s thrilling adventure full of crime-fighting misfits, jewel thieves, and cats! AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about this fun and action-packed caper that makes for ideal family listening. Olive Coben Zang is alarmed when her parents tell her she’ll soon be attending a new school—the mysterious RASCH, a castle on an island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. But once she’s there, the timid 12-year-old finds adventures galore. Kay’s dynamic tone and pacing are spot-on as she narrates the increasingly over-the-top escapades of Olive and her new friends who are recruited for top-secret missions to protect the school.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

This episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Brilliance Publishing. From the author of The Last Mona Lisa comes a thrilling story of masterpieces, masterminds, and mystery. Alternating between a perilous search and the history of stolen art and lives, listen at audible.com/TheLostVanGogh

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TO SHAPE A DRAGON'S BREATH by Moniquill Blackgoose, read by Charley Flyte

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss one of Emily’s favorite fantasy audiobooks of 2023. Charley Flyte narrates with a self-assured tone as Anequs, a teen from Masquapaug island who bonds with a dragon egg discovered near her island. She renews her people’s lost relationship with Nampeshiwe, or indigenous dragons, when she bonds with the hatchling, becoming a Nampeshiweisit (dragoneer). Listeners can hear Anequs’s commitment to her cultural knowledge and traditions as she begins her studies at the mainland dragon school, where she’s met with ignorance and racism. Author Moniquill Blackgoose has created a rich alternative fantasy world to explore, with Flyte making for a capable and dynamic narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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PROPHET SONG by Paul Lynch, read by Gerry O'Brien

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Harrowing, evocative, and timely, Paul Lynch’s 2023 Booker Prize-winning novel is a deep dive into what happens when democracy devolves into totalitarianism. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Gerry O’Brien’s narration of this tense and unforgettable audiobook. Set in Dublin, the story begins when Eilish Stack finds officers from the secret police at the door looking for her husband. An emergency is happening, and people are rapidly losing their rights as reality shifts under their feet. O’Brien’s excellent pacing and strong narration capture the tension, fear, and uncertainty as Eilish struggles to keep her family safe.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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BROKEN BAY by Margaret Hickey, read by Henry Nixon

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Henry Nixon builds the panic that listeners will feel intensely as characters are trapped in underwater caves and grow desperate for their next breaths. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Margaret Hickey’s thriller set on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, known for cave diving. While on vacation, Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti is drawn into a complicated investigation that spans decades. The seamless blend of Hickey’s narrative prowess and Nixon’s exemplary performance ensures an engaging experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Random House Australia Audio.

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OATH AND HONOR by Liz Cheney, read by Liz Cheney

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Liz Cheney’s memoir about the investigation into the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol. It combines an able narration by Cheney with clips of quoted material from news reports and recorded speeches, giving the audiobook a sense of immediacy that can’t be duplicated in print. Because she was a longtime U.S. representative, Cheney knows how to effectively utilize the spoken word, and it makes for an enlightening listen even for well-informed readers.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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MY VENICE AND OTHER ESSAYS by Donna Leon, read by Suzanne Toren

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Suzanne Toren’s exquisite enunciation and no-nonsense manner meld beautifully with Donna Leon’s sardonic, witty reflections on Venice and its denizens. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine’s Robin Whitten discuss how American-born Leon has made her home in the watery city for more than 40 years, and the long-running mystery series she’s penned set in Venice. These essays, first published in 2013, explore Venice’s oddity and inscrutability in depth, as well as touching on Leon’s New Jersey childhood. Toren narrates it all with perfect timing and a wink.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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DIVA by Daisy Goodwin, read by Lorelei King

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Listeners will have a grand time with Daisy Goodwin’s historical novel about famed opera singer Maria Callas, performed with a versatile narration by Lorelei King. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Goodwin’s imagining of Callas’s glamorous and haunting life. King gives Callas a slightly detached, poised tone as she rehearses and performs, and socializes with the rich and famous of the 1950s and ’60s—including Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly, and, of course, her longtime lover, Aristotle Onassis. Listeners will feel as though they are globe-trotting alongside Callas as she performs in classic opera houses of Europe and the U.S.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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INVITATION TO A BANQUET by Fuchsia Dunlop, read by Fuchsia Dunlop

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Grab your chopsticks and get ready for a delectable performance by Fuchsia Dunlop. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Dunlop’s tales of epicurean adventures around China, and the history of Chinese food. Dunlop’s narration imparts wisdom and reverence for Chinese culture and China’s diverse cuisine. Her Mandarin accent and satiny voice add to the lyrical descriptions and intricate history of mouthwatering dishes like steamed reeves shad and places like Dragon Well Village.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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NORTH WOODS by Daniel Mason, read by Mark Bramhall, Michael Crouch, Jason Culp, Mark Deakins, Jayne Entwistle, Billie Fulford-Brown, Arthur Morey, George Newbern, Kirsten Potter, Simon Vance

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an audiobook where the brilliance of the novel is enhanced by the excellence of the performers. Daniel Mason’s novel is expansive, employing a wide array of audiobook narrators. A secluded spot in Massachusetts becomes home to many over a four-hundred-year span. With each tale of shifting inhabitants, the listener is treated to a performance by one of several gifted narrators. The storytelling itself is original, and each narrator is perfectly cast for their section. History blends seamlessly with the supernatural and natural worlds, and the performances are consistently powerful to bridge the spaces between.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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TREMOR by Teju Cole, read by Atta Otigba, Yetide Badaki

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Atta Otigba and Yetide Badaki give outstanding performances in Teju Cole’s imagistic, nonlinear novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this distinctly postmodern work that captures the complexity of love and marriage. Badaki has precise diction and a lovely artistic tone, while Otigba delivers his parts in a powerful and authoritative voice. Both serve as grand guides to a world of art, history, and criticism.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE UPSTAIRS DELICATESSEN by Dwight Garner, read by Christopher P. Brown

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Christopher Brown uses the voice of a confidant for this cornucopia of pleasures—literary and gustatory. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Dwight Garner’s text crammed with words, quotes, and anecdotes about food and literature. Brown takes on a conversational style for this audiobook rich with literary figures and family members whose food opinions the author shares. Listening to this audiobook is mouthwatering and mind-expanding.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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ORANGES by John McPhee, read by Grover Gardner

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Golden Voice narrator Grover Gardner comfortably inhabits McPhee’s curious mind and captures the eloquence of his prose in this splendid rendition of ORANGES. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this short classic that brings together the supreme storyteller and the exceptional story performer. McPhee’s exploration of oranges ranges widely and digs deeply. From grove to glass, McPhee has done the work, and this pleasurable listen is delivered by a master.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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THE BEST AMERICAN FOOD WRITING 2023 by Mark Bittman, Silvia Killingsworth [Eds.], read by Elyse Dinh, Will Tulin, Carolina Hoyos, Dylan Moore, Nikki Massoud, Chanté McCormick, Justin Chien, Anthony Rey Perez, Johnny Rey Diaz, Terrence Kidd

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a delicious and thoughtful collection of essays narrated by an ensemble cast. Nikki Massoud gives an inspired performance of “Border Lines,” Anya von Bremzen’s nuanced debunking of national dishes. Johnny Rey Diaz uses clear Italian enunciation for John Last’s clever “There is No Such Thing as Italian Food.” Editor Bittman has found remarkable selections from EATER, GRUB STREET, HIGH COUNTRY NEWS, and even the JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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ENDEMIC by Monica Gandhi, read by Gabra Zackman

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Gabra Zackman’s warm and authoritative narration of Dr. Monica Gandhi’s guide to the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies for managing future pandemics. The audiobook is full of practical research findings and emphasizes the importance of providing harm reduction tools for any virus to make the world more equitable. Zackman’s performance is quietly persuasive, and the clarity of the writing is helped by her pure timbre, natural-sounding diction, and skill at strategic pauses to emphasize important phrases.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Mayo Clinic Press.

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SEEK by Scott Shigeoka, read by Scott Shigeoka

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a useful and often moving audiobook about promoting curiosity in people, written and read by Scott Shigeoka. His performance is a wonderful vehicle for his altruistic message and charming personal stories. Describing the uses and misuses of inquiry, he shows how we can question the world more intentionally while also being sensitive to others. His examples from the corporate world are especially useful as he details the attitudes and verbal tools that encourage creative expression and collaboration.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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LESSONS FOR LIVING by Phil Stutz, read by JC Mackenzie

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a book of essays on improving your life and learning from adversity narrated by JC Mackenzie. L.A. psychotherapist Phil Stutz began his work in prisons, which provided him with fodder for creating an “adversity is good” approach to personal growth and change. JC Mackenzie’s tone connects with the author’s intelligent perspectives on humanity and compassion for the challenges of modern culture. Stutz says living well is less about results and more about learning, moving forward with discipline, and embracing our connection to higher spiritual forces.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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ALL IT TAKES IS A GOAL by Jon Acuff, read by Jon Acuff

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss an audiobook all about setting goals. Productivity expert Jon Acuff narrates his audiobook with an infectious spontaneity and energy. His hero’s journey is full of optimism and will sound familiar to listeners. His core ideas about goal setting may not be revolutionary, but he adds creative strategies and colorful rationales that will speak to anyone who wants to create a better life.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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DIALED IN by Dana Sinclair, read by Eunice Wong, Dana Sinclair [Intro.]

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss a week of new and favorite personal development and business books, beginning with DIALED IN. After coach Dana Sinclair delivers her introduction with inviting sincerity, Eunice Wong performs the bulk of this captivating audiobook with the perfect blend of authority and spirit. The majority of the power of the audiobook can be found in the success stories that build the credibility of the author’s message: Guidance and support, as well as a strategic blend of insight and action, can help people break through performance blocks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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ALL THE LITTLE BIRD-HEARTS by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow, read by Rose Akroyd

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this Booker Prize-longlisted novel. Rose Akroyd performs as Sunday Forrester, an autistic woman navigating a neurotypical world as a single parent. Sunday lives a quiet life in rural England with her daughter. When a middle-aged couple moves into the neighborhood, Sunday and her teenage daughter become smitten with these sophisticated city people who seem to live much more glamorous and full lives. Akroyd captures Sunday’s straightforward way of speaking while still imbuing her performance with Sunday’s complex emotions, which she expresses differently than neurotypical people. Akroyd’s narration creates an intimate and beautiful performance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE REFORMATORY by Tananarive Due, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt masterfully re-creates a 1950s Florida reformatory in this story based on a relative of author Tananarive Due and other actual people and events. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this painful but essential story. Listeners meet 12-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr. after he’s arrested for defending his sister Gloria from a white boy. While in the segregated reform school, Robbie experiences and witnesses unfathomable punishment. Abbott-Pratt expertly portrays the story’s crushing atmosphere, as well as fearless Gloria fighting to rescue Robbie, terrified boys, and, most movingly, the “haints”—ghosts of dead boys—who assist Robbie with his escape.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/239837/

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com https://audiofilemagazine.com/

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Lost-Van-Gogh-Audiobook/B0CP9WNVPW?qid=1703016878&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=9CKKXZK94F7XV484DMAH&pageLoadId=QWpPK8dP4gsSjF8Q&ref_plink=not_applicable&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c

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THE BEE STING by Paul Murray, read by Heather O'Sullivan, Barry Fitzgerald, Beau Holland, Ciaran O'Brien, Lisa Caruccio Came

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Paul Murray’s Booker-shortlisted novel of an Irish family falling apart at its seams, performed by a talented ensemble. Ciaran O'Brien performs the perspective of Dickie, a car salesman whose business is going under after the financial crash. Beau Holland narrates the perspective of Dickie’s shopaholic wife with a scheme to save her husband’s business. The couple’s children, performed by Heather O’Sullivan and Barry Fitzgerald, each have secrets of their own. The narrators embody their point-of-view characters, capturing their insecurities and eccentricities as their familial relationships deteriorate.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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HOW TO SAY BABYLON by Safiya Sinclair, read by Safiya Sinclair

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Author/narrator Safiya Sinclair emphasizes the poetry of her words as she narrates her memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this powerful memoir. Sinclair begins by defining “Babylon,” the term that Rastafarians coined to refer to the corrupting influences of Western culture—white oppression, in particular. Her father, a musician, became a strict Rastafarian, and when Sinclair reaches puberty, her rageful father turns on her and rains down abuse. The memoir’s throughlines are Sinclair’s depictions of her mother’s gentle love, her siblings’ tenderness, her own determination, and the poetry that grew within her.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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DAY by Michael Cunningham, read by Julianne Moore

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Julianne Moore performs this pandemic novel told in three sections. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester start the new year with this moving family story. Each section is set on April 5th of a different year. In 2019, we meet Isabel; her husband, Dan; and her brother, Robbie—who are all living together in New York City. Each section reveals more about the family members, weaving together the threads of their lives. Moore’s narration is engrossing and moves easily among the different characters’ points of view, giving each family member emotional depth and development.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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KING: A LIFE: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today’s episode revisits a favorite biography from this year’s 2023 Best Audiobooks. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this Golden Voice narrator’s captivating performance. Dion Graham captures the Civil Rights leader’s deep, resonant tone; deliberate ministerial intonation; and during offstage moments, his world-weariness. Author Jonathan Eig renders King as a great but flawed man. A monumental biography performed exquisitely. Be sure to listen to our interview with Dion Graham about the making of this powerful biography.

Find KING: A LIFE and more excellent listening on our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from HarperAudio. Get up-close to artists you admire with Willie Nelson’s Energy Follows Thought, Melissa Etheridge’s Talking to My Angels, and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Worthy. Listen to samples at www.hc.com.

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A RAKE OF HIS OWN: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting favorite listens from our 2023 Best Audiobooks. Today’s episode features a discussion about a fantastical romance from A.J. Lancaster, read with skill by Golden Voice narrator Nicholas Boulton. It’s part fantasy, part murder, part romance, and a total delight. When botanical scholar Marius encounters a murdered colleague in his greenhouse, the enthralling fae, Prince Rakken, is there to investigate. Amid more dead colleagues and adventures in various realms, Marius and Rakken begin a romance. Boulton’s crisp, drawling voice meets the challenges of this fantastical romp.

Find A RAKE OF HIS OWN and more excellent listening on our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Podium Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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SUNSHINE: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

This year, AudioFile introduced the new Audio Originals category in our 2023 Best Audiobooks list, including Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s moving memoir, SUNSHINE, which recounts his experiences as a counselor at a camp for terminally ill children. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this powerful adaptation of the graphic memoir, with the coordination of more than 50 narrators, carefully selected music, and sound effects that enhance the action. Be sure to listen to our conversation with author Jarrett J. Krosoczka about transforming his graphic memoir into an audiobook.

Find SUNSHINE and more excellent listening on our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today we’re sharing a favorite audiobook for younger readers—and another of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Audiobooks. Magic flows as Joniece Abbott-Pratt brings to life Angie Thomas’s thrilling first middle-grade fantasy novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Thomas’s new series, which is perfect for family road trips and young fantasy fans. Nic Blake has just turned twelve, but her dad refuses to start teaching her to use her magical abilities. When Nic discovers shocking secrets he’s kept from her—and he’s arrested for a crime he didn’t commit—it’s up to her to find the truth. Abbott-Pratt captures listeners’ attention with her dramatic narration, voicing each character with heart and emotion and leaving listeners eager for the next in the series.

Find NIC BLAKE and more excellent listening on our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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TOM LAKE: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting our favorite audiobooks from 2023. Today’s episode is our discussion of Meryl Streep’s captivating performance of Ann Patchett’s newest novel, TOM LAKE. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this Earphones Award-winning audiobook, one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Audiobooks, about the Nelson family isolating together at the start of the Covid pandemic. It’s a beautiful warm hug of an audiobook about a mother and the relationship she has with her children. Streep narrates with breathtaking sensitivity, savoring the novel’s many lessons and satisfactions.

Find TOM LAKE and more excellent listening on our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING by Uzma Jalaluddin, Marissa Stapley, read by Ulka Simone Mohanty

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Ulka Simone Mohanty narrates a joyous celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Ramadan as two new friends are stranded in scenic Snow Falls, Canada, during a blizzard. Mohanty displays a fun sense of humor as multiple disasters threaten the travelers. While Maryam Aziz helps her family manage her sister’s wedding postponements and reflects on her own desires, and bustling Anna examines her life choices, Mohanty highlights their emotional journeys with a comforting intimacy. They discover a welcoming community in Snow Falls, and may just find a new holiday romance in the sweet small Canadian town. Mohanty fosters an atmosphere of wonder as travel delays turn into the best holiday ever.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Isabella Star LaBlanc narrates Angeline Boulley’s newest story set in Sugar Island, Michigan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the thrilling follow-up to Boulley’s FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER. Sixteen-year-old Perry Firekeeper-Birch is resentful when she’s forced into a summer internship after wrecking her aunt’s car. LaBlanc captures Perry’s growth into a fierce protector of her community and their history. Perry gets caught up in a murder investigation, plans a heist, and discovers dangers targeting Indigenous women and girls. A powerful listen, and one of AudioFile’s Best Books of 2023.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT by Shane Hawk, Theodore C. Van Alst Jr. [Eds.], read by Erin Tripp, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Joelle Peters, Kaniehtiio Horn, Lisa Cromarty, Maika Harper, Shane Ghostkeeper, Sheldon Elter, Tara Sky

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Settle in for a riveting collection of stories from 26 Indigenous authors, performed by 9 Indigenous narrators. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss these horror stories packed with fearsome creatures, dangerous spirits, and horrifying humans. Listeners will be shocked, scared, and delighted by stories from well-known and newer authors alike, all narrated with skill. Sheldon Elter’s matter-of-fact portrayal of a frustrated son transforms into very believable terror in Cherie Dimaline’s “Tick Talk.” Tara Sky’s youthful voice enlivens two disturbingly realistic stories of white people manipulating Indigenous girls and women with unsettling sincerity. Listeners will find stories full of horror and fear—yet community, humor, and joy abound.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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A POWER UNBOUND by Freya Marske, read by Josh Dylan

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Josh Dylan gives a stand-out performance in this stunning conclusion to Freya Marske’s Last Binding trilogy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fantasy romance series that weaves together magic, power, and a whole lot of romantic tension into an explosive listen. Jack Alston lost his magic and his twin sister in a dramatic betrayal years ago. Now, as Lord Hawthorn, he’s drawn back into the world of magic by a group of unlikely allies battling a conspiracy of power-hungry magicians. He’s surprised when Alan Ross, a prickly journalist and thief, offers his assistance. Action and romance come together in a richly written and beautifully performed audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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SYSTEM COLLAPSE by Martha Wells, read by Kevin R. Free

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a new audiobook in the beloved Murderbot series by Martha Wells. Kevin R. Free is the perfect voice for the rogue security unit who would rather just be watching serials, but is protecting its humans — and having a mental breakdown. In a story that takes place immediately after NETWORK EFFECT, Murderbot, ART, and their humans continue to assist colonists on a planet marked for corporate salvage. Free’s depiction of Murderbot’s unresolved mental trauma is harrowing, especially as it digs into its memories to find the possible sources. There is plenty of action, too, as the team faces possible corporate and alien dangers and corruption.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE CHRISTMAS GUEST by Peter Swanson, read by Esther Wane

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Esther Wane narrates a thrilling holiday mystery from Peter Swanson. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the manor house mystery and its ghostly tale. One lonely Christmas night, Emma reads the diary of a fellow student she invited to her family’s English manor house for the holidays thirty years earlier. Wane uses a vague American accent for Ashley’s tale in the diary, full of wide-eyed pleasure at the “Gothic thriller” she feels transported into. With thrills, romance, and a ghost, this novella is a big gift in a small package.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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JUNIPER'S CHRISTMAS by Eoin Colfer, read by Olivia Forrest, Eoin Colfer

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Olivia Forrest narrates this magical story of Santa Claus. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a charming holiday audiobook for children from Eoin Colfer. Santa is grieving the loss of his wife and is fed up with the commercialization of Christmas. Juniper Lane, who is grieving for her dad, seeks to persuade Santa to resume delivering Christmas gifts. Then an evil gang steals and burns gifts intended for the poor. Forrest gives a spirited portrayal of Juniper and enchants as she delivers descriptions of Earth from above.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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AudioFile’s Guide to Gifting Audiobooks

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talks with host Jo Reed about her tips for gifting audiobooks this holiday season. Listen to hear her thoughts on fun ways to get younger kids listening and more. For ideas on which audiobooks to give, we recommend perusing our list of 2023 Best Audiobooks — there’s something for every listener!

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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Vikas Adam Interview: Best Young Adult Audiobooks 2023

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Vikas Adam joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss Abdi Nazemian’s ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT, which he co-narrated along with Fajer Al-Kaisi and Iman Nazemzadeh. It’s one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Young Adult Audiobooks, and each narrator gives a transcendent performance. It explores three generations of an Iranian family and is full of joy and anguish alike. Adam tells listeners about the preparation that went into recording this moving audiobook, working with his co-narrators, and what has stayed with him about narrating this work.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Harper Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Young Adult Audiobooks are:

ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE by Jonny Garza Villa, read by Avi Roque

FOR LAMB by Lesa Cline-Ransome, read by Tyla Collier, Kevin R. Free, Rebecca Lee, Jaime Lincoln Smith, Dion Graham, Angel Pean

FREE RADICALS by Lila Riesen, read by Gilli Messer

THE GRIMOIRE OF GRAVE FATES by Hanna Alkaf, Margaret Owen [Eds.], read by January LaVoy, Nicky Endres

ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL MOMENT by Abdi Nazemian, read by Vikas Adam, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Iman Nazemzadeh

WARRIOR GIRL UNEARTHED by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Vikas Adam photo by Ilya S Savenok for Getty Images.

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Guy Lockard Interview: Best Children & Family Listening 2023

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Guy Lockard joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME, Jason Reynolds’s second audiobook about the adventures of an unforgettable young superhero. It’s one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Children & Family Listening titles and is packed full of sound effects, music, a full cast—and Lockard’s lively narration. Listen to hear Lockard’s thoughts on what makes STUNTBOY so special and his longtime friendship and collaboration with author Reynolds.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Children & Family Listening titles are:

ELF DOG AND OWL HEAD by M.T. Anderson, read by Pete Cross

NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES: THE MANIFESTOR PROPHECY by Angie Thomas, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

REMEMBER US by Jacqueline Woodson, read by Jacqueline Woodson

SANDOR KATZ AND THE TINY WILD by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, June Jo Lee, read by Lori Prince, Sandor Katz

THE SKULL by Jon Klassen, read by Fairuza Balk, Jon Klassen [Afterword]

STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, James Fouhey, and a Full Cast

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Guy Lockard photo by Miguel Herrera.

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Thérèse Plummer Interview: Best Romance Audiobooks 2023

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Thérèse Plummer joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss her narration of LOVE, THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood. It’s one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Romance Audiobooks, and a fun and flirty story set in MIT’s theoretical physics lab. Dr. Elsie Hannaway is miserable in her role as adjunct professor, dreaming of tenure. She poses as a fake girlfriend to make ends meet and meets an infamous experimentalist, Jack Smith. Plummer fully embodies Elsie, making listeners feel every bit of this enemies-to-lovers romance. Plummer tells listeners what she enjoyed most about narrating this audiobook, and how her own science background informed her narration.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Penguin Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Romance Audiobooks are:

10 THINGS THAT NEVER HAPPENED by Alexis Hall, read by Will Watt

EVEN IF THE SKY IS FALLING by Taj McCoy [Ed.], read by Adenrele Ojo, Soneela Nankani, Karen Murray, Marissa Hampton, Donnabella Mortel, Joy Beharie, Teddy Hamilton

FULL MOON OVER FREEDOM by Angelina M. Lopez, read by Stacy Gonzalez

LOVE, THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood, read by Thérèse Plummer

A RAKE OF HIS OWN by A.J. Lancaster, read by Nicholas Boulton

ROLE PLAYING by Cathy Yardley, read by Chris Brinkley, Elyse Dinh

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Thérèse Plummer photo courtesy of the narrator.

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Daniel Henning Interview: Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks 2023

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Daniel Henning joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss his narration of T.J. Klune’s IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS, one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks. In the audiobook, Henning demonstrates perfect comedic timing and impressive vocal versatility in a sci-fi retelling of “Pinocchio.” It’s a laugh-out-loud and emotional audiobook that asks listeners to question what it means to be human. In this interview, Henning tells listeners about preparing to voice the characters, human and non-human, and the fun of bringing this queer Pinocchio retelling to life.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Macmillan Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks are:

GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner, read by Kit Griffiths

HOLLY by Stephen King, read by Justine Lupe, Stephen King [Note]

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS by TJ Klune, read by Daniel Henning

THE WATER OUTLAWS by S.L. Huang, read by Emily Woo Zeller

SILVER NITRATE by Silvia Morena-Garcia, read by Gisela Chipe

TRANSLATION STATE by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Daniel Henning photo by Stephen Mosher.

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Adenrele Ojo Interview: Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks 2023

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adenrele Ojo joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss narrating Stacey Abrams’s ROGUE JUSTICE. It’s one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks and an intense listening experience. Ojo returns to portray the smart, feisty Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene. Abrams has written a complex plot that sweeps Avery into a dangerous situation, this time involving a threat to the power grid. Ojo discusses the fun and challenges of narrating mystery series, and what she loves best about narrating suspense audiobooks.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks are:

ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby, read by Adam Lazarre-White

BIRNAM WOOD by Eleanor Catton, read by Saskia Maarleveld

DEAD MAN'S POSE by Susan Rogers, John Roosen, read by Rupert Degas

ROGUE JUSTICE by Stacey Abrams, read by Adenrele Ojo

THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron, read by Gerard Doyle

VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto, read by Eunice Wong

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Adenrele Ojo photo by Michael Roud Photography.

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Grover Gardner Interview: Best Nonfiction & History Audiobooks 2023

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Gover Gardner joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss his narration of John McPhee’s TABULA RASA, one of the 2023 Best Nonfiction & History Audiobooks. It’s an audio collection of essays and sketches that brings two storytellers together for a memorable listen. Gardner discusses the challenges of recording an audiobook that ranges over so many topics, and how McPhee’s storytelling style is so well suited to audio.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Recorded Books.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Nonfiction & History Audiobooks are:

DIFFER WE MUST by Steve Inskeep, read by Steve Inskeep

MISBELIEF by Dan Ariely, read by Simon Jones

POVERTY, BY AMERICA by Matthew Desmond, read by Dion Graham

TABULA RASA by John McPhee, read by Grover Gardner

THE WAGER by David Grann, read by Dion Graham

WASTELAND by Oliver Franklin-Wallis, read by Chris Harper

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Grover Gardner photo courtesy of the narrator.

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Dion Graham Interview: Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks 2023

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss his narration of KING: A LIFE, written by Jonathan Eig, and one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks. Listen to hear Graham discussing the research and preparations that went into this narration, and the challenges he faced bringing it to life. It’s a riveting audiobook, and Graham emulates the majestic cadence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches. It’s a monumental biography performed exquisitely by a Golden Voice narrator.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Macmillan Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Biography & Memoir Audiobooks are:

THE ART THIEF by Michael Finkel, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Michael Finkel [Note]

HOW TO SAY BABYLON by Safiya Sinclair, read by Safiya Sinclair

KING: A LIFE by Jonathan Eig, read by Dion Graham

MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart, read by Patrick Stewart

WHILE YOU WERE OUT by Meg Kissinger, read by Meg Kissinger

WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT by Kwame Alexander, read by Kwame Alexander

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Photo of Dion Graham by Max Flatow.

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Helen Laser Interview: Best Fiction Audiobooks 2023

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Helen Laser joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss her narration of YELLOWFACE, R.F. Kuang’s novel with a sharp look at the publishing world and one of AudioFile’s 2023 Best Fiction Audiobooks. Laser gives a mesmerizing performance as June Hayward, a struggling author who steals her dead friend’s manuscript, passing it off as her own, and publishing it while pretending she is Asian. It’s a riveting production of a thrilling and thought-provoking story. Laser shares the challenges of narrating YELLOWFACE, and what has stayed with her about this audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Harper Audio.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Fiction Audiobooks are:

CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, read by Shayna Small, Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch, Lee Osorio

THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman

I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, read by Julia Whelan, JD Jackson

THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor, read by Kevin R. Free

TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep

YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, read by Helen Laser

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Photo of Helen Laser by John DeAmara.

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Jarrett J. Krosoczka Interview: Best Audio Originals 2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Author, illustrator, and narrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners about transforming his graphic memoir SUNSHINE into a moving full-cast audiobook. SUNSHINE is Krosoczka’s second graphic memoir, sharing his experience working at a camp for terminally ill children and the joy of the friendships he made there. It’s a powerful listen, and in this interview, Krosoczka tells listeners about the challenges of transforming a visual memoir into an audio experience.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

AudioFile’s 2023 Best Audio Originals 2023 are:

ALISON BECHDEL'S DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR by Alison Bechdel, Madeleine George, read by Jane Lynch, Carrie Brownstein, Roberta Colindrez, Roxane Gay, and a Full Cast

EXODUS: THE SHANGHAI JEWS by Kate McAll, read by Edita Brychta, Michael Canavan, Shannon Cochran, Arye Gross, Anna Mathias, Alan Shearman, André Sogliuzzo, Joanne Whalley

THE SCAVENGER DOOR by Suzanne Palmer, read by Karen Novack, John Kielty, Rayner Gabriel, Gail Shalan, and a Full Cast

SUNSHINE by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, read by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jaiden Meltzer, Xavier Krosoczka, Noah Rico, and a Full Cast

THIRD EYE by Felicia Day, read by Sean Astin, Felicia Day, Neil Gaiman, LilyPichu, London Hughes, Wil Wheaton, and a Full Cast

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

Photo of Jarrett J. Krosoczka courtesy of StudioJJK.

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AudioFile’s 2023 Best Audiobooks!

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to discuss AudioFile’s 2023 Best Audiobooks. Listen to learn how the winning audiobooks were chosen out of the thousands reviewed this year. Robin and Jo share their favorites from the list and discuss upcoming interviews with the narrators of some of this year’s honored titles.

For the full list of 2023 Best Audiobooks visit our website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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CLASS by Stephanie Land, read by Stephanie Land

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Stephanie Land, author of MAID, had a laser-focused goal to succeed as a writer, and this memoir proves that in spades. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story that details Land’s life on the edge of poverty while raising her daughter. Land’s presentation of her life, which included an abusive husband, an unpredictable father to her daughter, and financial challenges, would send anyone over the edge. It all got her down, but she never gave up, and she ultimately succeeded in graduating from college and getting her Master of Fine Arts. Fans of her previous work will be drawn to this memoir for its honesty, integrity, and candor.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE WOMAN IN ME by Britney Spears, read by Michelle Williams, Britney Spears [Intro.]

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Actor Michelle Williams delivers a tell-all memoir from singer Britney Spears. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook full of pain detailing how a vibrant performing talent was ultimately used by her family and circle of handlers to make money off of her life. Williams uses a direct approach to voice Spears’s feelings, and her narration gives added perspective on the trauma, stress, and pressure Spears endured for so many years. Rarer joyful moments are delivered with warmth, reminding listeners that Spears is more than the spectacle the media has made her out to be.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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PREQUEL by Rachel Maddow, read by Rachel Maddow

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

TV host and political commentator Rachel Maddow shines at framing the backstory of current American politics in her latest audiobook, narrated in her signature forthright style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the audiobook that builds off the success of her award-winning podcast Ultra. Here, Maddow lays out the historical seditionist plot to not only keep the U.S. out of WWII, but also convince Americans that the Nazi attacks against Jewish people were justified and that Nazi control of Europe would be acceptable and fascist control of the U.S. would be, too. Maddow’s wry storytelling ability is on full display, and the result is a terrifyingly familiar look at America’s earlier, and continuing, dance with fascism.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE DISH by Andrew Friedman, read by Michael Lomonaco

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Michael Lomonaco narrates Andrew Friedman’s high-energy audiobook with the right tempo, cadence, and tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this tale of all the work that goes into creating a perfect dish. Lomonaco is a famed chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, so he understands the intensity and focus of a creative kitchen. The author is especially adept at profiles, including farmers, chefs, and employees at every level of a restaurant, as well as the people in distribution. Friedman’s portrait of Chicago’s former Wherewithall Restaurant is a loving testimony to high-end dining, specifically the restaurant’s complex four-course tasting menus that delighted diners and critics alike.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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FIRE WEATHER by John Vaillant, read by Alan Carlson

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Carlson reads John Vaillant’s intense recreation of a massive fire with controlled urgency. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the audiobook that unspools the remarkable trajectory of a wildfire that ultimately engulfed one million and a half acres, burned for 15 months, and caused the evacuation of 90,000 residents of the Alberta city of Ft McMurray. The colossal conflagration dubbed “The Beast” began in May 2016, and this audiobook tells in meticulous details the climate change backstory while also describing the impact to the city and its citizens. Ominous, predictive, and frightening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE TIMES by Adam Nagourney, read by Robert Petkoff

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Petkoff delivers a masterful performance of Adam Nagourney’s detailed history of the NEW YORK TIMES from 1976 to 2016. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss his smooth and nuanced narration, and how his tempo and cadence move these inside stories forward. It’s a gripping media story of how the Times survived scandals, the turnover of top editors, and the transition from print to online. THE TIMES remains vital, and this audiobook explains why.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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DIFFER WE MUST by Steve Inskeep, read by Steve Inskeep

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

It’s no surprise that Steve Inskeep of NPR narrates well. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how he narrates with a practiced cadence and the authoritative tone of a polished broadcaster. The subject is Abraham Lincoln, the most studied and written about president in American history. Inskeep examines how Lincoln dealt with those he disagreed with (Stephen Douglas), those who were critical of him (Frederick Douglass), those who didn’t follow his directions (General George McClellan), and those he had to soothe emotionally (his wife, Mary). The politics of today are illuminated in this fine, deftly narrated work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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AND THEN SHE FELL by Alicia Elliott, read by Cheri Maracle, Jenna Clause

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jenna Clause and Cheri Maracle perform this heart-rending novel by Mohawk author Alicia Elliot. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how from the outside, Alice appears to have it all. She lives with her successful white husband and beautiful baby girl in the “nice” part of town. But when Alice begins to have horrible visions and the trees begin sharing their memories with her, she realizes something is horribly wrong. Jenna Clause performs Alice with an incredible ear for dialogue and sense of rhythm, while Cheri Maracle performs the perspective of a family member desperate to help Alice with her deteriorating mental health.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE WREN, THE WREN by Anne Enright, read by Anne Enright, Aoife Duffin, Owen Roe, Liza Ross

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Anne Enright, Aoife Duffin, Owen Roe, and Liza Ross perform Enright’s latest novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story of family and the complexities of young love. Duffin narrates as Nell, a 20-something woman who, when she meets her boyfriend’s parents, finds they care to discuss only her famous grandfather, Irish poet Phil McDaragh. Enright performs the perspective of Nell’s mother, Carmel, a woman who lived her childhood in her father’s shadow, and her narration imbues Carmel with warmth and resolve. Owen Roe and Liza Ross provide additional voices for poems and letters written for Carmel and Nell.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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GOOD WOMEN by Halle Hill, read by Tovah Ott

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Tovah Ott performs a debut short story collection from East Tennessee author Halle Hill. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the collection of twelve stories that all feature Black women confronting societal expectations of how a “good woman” should behave. Ott’s narration makes each character’s viewpoint sound unique, capturing their narrative voice and perspective. Ott uses just a touch of Southern accent in her performance, adding just the right touch for each character’s dialogue.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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OPINIONS by Roxane Gay, read by Roxane Gay

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Author Roxane Gay performs a collection of her nonfiction pieces from the last decade. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the essays that range from cultural criticism to celebrity profiles. Gay also writes about big cultural moments, carefully crafting her thoughts with fresh insights. Whatever her subject, Gay’s performance highlights her clear, direct prose and sense of humor. She presents her ideas in a deeply personal way that connects with her listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE ILIAD by Homer, Emily Wilson [Trans.], read by Audra McDonald

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald performs Emily Wilson’s new translation of one of the world’s oldest stories. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss revisiting Homer’s classic work. McDonald gives a performance for the ages as she narrates this epic with a masterful sense of rhythm, drawing out the suspense of the war between the Greeks and the Trojans. Her voice captures the clamor and clash of war, bringing to our mind’s eye the deadly battles.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE GOLDEN GATE by Amy Chua, read by Robb Moreira, Tim Campbell, Suzanne Toren

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Robb Moreira portrays police detective Al Sullivan, who tells listeners about a prominent industrialist who is murdered in San Francisco’s posh Claremont Hotel in 1944. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how the Claremont Hotel is essentially a character in this story that features layers of San Francisco history with the intersection of its diverse communities. Moreira’s Sullivan is competent, persistent, yet caring, animating characters from low-life thugs, the upper-class Bainbridge women, and even Madame Chaing Kai-shek. Tim Campbell and Suzanne Toren ably narrate court deposition sequences.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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CROOK MANIFESTO by Colson Whitehead, read by Dion Graham

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

With his mesmerizing and versatile voice, Dion Graham masterfully narrates Colson Whitehead’s second audiobook featuring reformed criminal Ray Carney. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this trio of stories about Harlem and how Graham brings them to life. He perfectly complements Whitehead’s intricate and beautifully written portrayal of 1970s Harlem. Carney, a landlord, proud furniture store owner, and family man, is reluctantly drawn back into the criminal underworld by a violent and corrupt police detective.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Anna Lyse Erikson [Adapt.], read by Rufus Sewell, Sarah Drew, Nate Corddry, and a Full Cast

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In this smart, sensitive, and faithful adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterwork, the ill-fated relationships between a mysterious big spender; a young, married socialite; and their bevy of privileged friends are given center stage. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audio theater adaptation of the classic, with the action driven by the characters talking to one another. And what talk it is. Rufus Sewell finds the tender bravado of Jay Gatsby, who is seeking to win back Daisy Buchanan, played with aching sublimity by Sarah Drew. Nate Corddry, playing Jazz Age narrator and sidekick Nick Carraway, deftly delivers some of Fitzgerald’s most celebrated passages of heightened prose.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by L.A. Theatre Works.

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THE DEADLINE by Jill Lepore, read by Jill Lepore

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jill Lepore, NEW YORKER staff writer and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, is a captivating essayist and performer of her own writing. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss hearing Lepore narrate her work, collecting essays from THE NEW YORKER. She narrates with an upbeat pace, and her voice blooms with enthusiasm. That enthusiasm, combined with humor and smarts, makes for enticing listening. Her essays are personal, and her emotional connection to the material is clear. Lepore is erudite, funny, and thought-provoking.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Indisturies.

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Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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MAKING IT SO by Patrick Stewart, read by Patrick Stewart

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Yorkshireman Sir Patrick Stewart presents a revealing, clear, and beautifully written memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Stewart is an icon to multiple generations, and the warmth and joy with which he shares his own story. Listeners follow his career from humble beginnings that include domestic violence to the heights of international film, stage, and television stardom. His performance is compassionate, sensitive, and powerful. An audiobook not to miss.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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WORTHY by Jada Pinkett Smith, read by Jada Pinkett Smith

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Actor and talk-show host Jada Pinkett Smith foreshadows the range of emotions she projects into her memoir by beginning with quiet despair and transitioning to a fierce tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Smith’s willingness to explain her perspective with her strong, unique, and compelling narration. Smith shares intimate details of growing up in Baltimore; shouts as she recounts being held at gunpoint while dealing drugs in her youth; and speaks fondly of the late legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. The details of Smith’s life—including the infamous slap—are captivating.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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MISTER MAGIC by Kiersten White, read by Rebecca Lowman, Kiersten White [Note]

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Lowman’s narration is captivating in this novel by Kiersten White. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this novel centered around a canceled TV series for kids, “Mister Magic,” and the five members of its final cast who are brought together to record a podcast. No recordings of the original show exist, and there’s no record of who filmed it, but fans still have its haunting kids’ songs stuck in their heads. Lowman captures the buildup as the cast piece together the tragic events that led to the show’s abrupt end. Her performance keeps this fun, creepy thriller entertaining to the end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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WITH A KISS WE DIE by L.R. Dorn, read by Thérèse Plummer, January LaVoy, et al.

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Thérèse Plummer leads a full cast with her captivating performance as true-crime podcast host Ryanna Raines. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook that is meant to be heard. It’s the story of a podcaster, Ryanna, who is contacted by a pair of UC Santa Barbara theater students who are suspected of murder and want to tell their story. What follows is a twisty psychological thriller. It plays out like a true-crime podcast with interviews, recaps, potent details, and a dark story. The impressive group of narrators includes current UCSB acting students.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Reba McEntire, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT by Nina Simon, read by Jane Oppenheimer

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Nina Simon’s funny, touching, character-driven mystery is superbly narrated by Jane Oppenheimer. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a story of three generations of women coming together to solve a murder and prove their innocence. Los Angeles real estate mogul Lana Rubicon is diagnosed with cancer and moves into a small-town home with her adult daughter, Beth, and Beth’s teenage daughter, Jack. Then Jack finds a body. Oppenheimer is outstanding, capturing the story’s humor. Her expressive performance adds to the fun of this story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Dreamscape Publishing. Dreamscape is an award-winning independent publisher and multimedia studio that is committed to producing a diverse catalog of high-quality audiobooks.

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YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DIE TONIGHT by Kalynn Bayron, read by Hewot Tedia

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Hewot Tedla captures the tone of brassy independence, fiery romance, and chilling terror in this teen thriller by Kalynn Bayron. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Charity’s unusual job — being the “final girl” in a live action horror film experience at Camp Mirror Lake. When employees go missing and strange happenings pile up, Tedla’s tone devolves into gut-wrenching emotion as Charity uncovers the real evil lurking in Mirror Lake. A taut slasher-movie homage.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

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THE SKULL by Jon Klassen, read by Fairuza Balk, Jon Klassen [Afterword]

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Fairuza Balk’s talented narration will draw listeners into this retelling of a mysterious Tyrolean folktale. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the rich sound effects and music that bring Jon Klassen’s tale to life. Balk captures the youth and curiosity of Otilla, a young girl fleeing into the forest who discovers a mysterious home inhabited by a skull. Balk renders Otilla and the skull’s warm dialogue, conveying their easy friendship and growing trust. When the skull confesses the scary truth about what haunts him every night, Otilla bravely stands up for her friend. The author narrates his afterword, explaining how he transformed the original tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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THE LOVER by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Nina Yndis

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Nina Yndis narrates a bewitching short story about a girl, Judith, who longs for adventure and romance in her quiet life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this atmospheric tale from Silvia Moreno-Garcia that reads like an enchanting—and slightly sinister—fairy tale. Judith dreams of the world beyond her small village, and resents her lot working for her beautiful and cruel older sister. Listeners hear her thrill as a handsome stranger comes to town—and devastation when he chooses her sister over her. The winter brings snow and hungry wolves to the village, and Judith falls into sensuous entanglements in the wintery woods. Yndis’s light Norwegian accent and engaging voice will draw listeners into this romantic tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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THOSE PINK MOUNTAIN NIGHTS by Jen Ferguson, read by Julie Lumsden, Aaliya Warbus, Kimberly Woods, Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Four talented narrators voice a compelling story of teenagers finding community and struggling with loss over a tumultuous week in their small Canadian town. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Jen Ferguson’s skilled writing, creating a window into the lives of four teens who all worked at the Pink Mountain Pizza parlor, and were impacted by the ongoing missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls crisis. Each narrator voices their characters with care as the teens discover a plan to sell the beloved pizza parlor and launch a protest. As they dig for the truth, they find much more than they expected.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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MASTERS OF DEATH by Olivie Blake, read by Steve West

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Steve West gives a lively performance of this romantic fantasy audiobook, voicing each mortal, immortal, and undead character with the humor, sarcasm, and sinister whispers required. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of diving into this fantasy world from Olivie Blake. Fox D’Mora is a bit of a rake posing as a medium, though as the godson of Death he has an unusual connection to those beyond the veil. When Viola Marek, a vampire and real estate agent, calls on him with a poltergeist problem, Fox is alarmed to find Death no longer answering his summons. They soon find themselves players in a deadly game alongside angels, demons, werewolves and, much to Fox’s dismay, his ex lover. West voices the narrative with a rich British accent, and shifts smoothly into each character’s voice making for a marvelous listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan.

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ROMAN STORIES by Jhumpa Lahiri, Todd Portnowitz [Trans.], read by Deepti Gupta, Carlotta Brentan, Cassandra Campbell, Ari Fliakos, Michael Obiora

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Five talented narrators join forces to deliver a nuanced performance of Jhumpa Lahiri’s new collection of short stories. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this collection written originally in Italian, the author’s third language, and translated into English. The contemplative and elegant stories revolve around outsiders drawn to the City of Light. The mix of voices - Indian subcontinent, mid-American, British-African, Italian-American - highlights the atmosphere of displacement. Their voices create a tapestry of a story, weaving together these very different lives of those who live and long to belong in Rome.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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BARTLEBY AND ME by Gay Talese, read by Mike Ortego

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Mike Ortego artfully performs Gay Talese’s polished sentences and captures the flavor of his urbane worldview with a writerly tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Talese’s audiobook focused on three of his works. He returns listeners to the sights and sounds of his most famous piece of creative nonfiction, “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold,” entertaining listeners with the backstory. There is a fine new piece on the bizarre death of Dr. Nicholas Bartha, and an insightful profile of the famous NEW YORK TIMES obituary writer, Aldon Whitman. Indeed, there is much about the TIMES in the 1960s, where the now 91-year old Talese got his start.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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HOW I WON A NOBEL PRIZE by Julius Taranto, read by Lauren Fortgang

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Lauren Fortgang performs Julia Taranto’s clever satirical novel with a quick pulse and snappy cadence. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Fortgang gets the tone just right for the story’s protagonist, a self-referential narrator with a sense of the absurdity of her situation and plight. A brilliant scientist, Helen follows her mentor to a research university set on an imaginary island, a kind of home for anti-woke academics and other culture warriors. A fun and worthwhile listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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DISRUPTIONS by Steven Millhauser, read by Gisela Chípe, Vas Eli, Arthur Morey

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Gisela Chípe, Vas Eli, and Arthur Morey enrich these tilt-a-whirl stories from Steven Millhauser. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this Earphones Award-winning audiobook full of a remarkable variety of imaginary worlds. Three different yet all very convincing narrators voice simple characters whose lives become fantastically disrupted. Mischief, restrained malevolence, and twisty plots abound. Millhauser’s resourceful imagination is well served in this rich audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio

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SWIM HOME TO THE VANISHED by Brendan Shay Basham, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Shaun Taylor-Corbett performs Brendan Shay Basham’s immersive audiobook in a restrained style. Magical realism colors this fine debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Taylor-Corbett shifts his tone to reflect the various characters and authentically delivers the Diné language in the text. He inhabits the soul of Damien, who has just lost his younger brother, and seeks refuge from his wounds by traveling to a mysterious seacoast town. The author takes listeners on a journey that is part origin story, part evocation of climate disasters, and entirely worth listening to.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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SOMEBODY'S FOOL by Richard Russo, read by Mark Bramhall

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Richard Russo’s newest book, given a very fine narration by Mark Bramhall. Russo is at his storytelling best here, returning to the North Bath community of NOBODY’S FOOL and EVERYBODY'S FOOL. A broad array of characters interacts credibly thanks to Bramhall’s strong performance. As Peter Sullivan mulls over his relationship with his estranged son, Janie struggles in her role as daughter and mother, and Raymer ponders a new life and a violent death. The audiobook shines as the work of an excellent novelist delivered by an exceptional vocal artist.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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EVIL EYE by Etaf Rum, read by Vaneh Assadourian, Gail Shalan

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Vaneh Assadourian and Gail Shalan perform the intimate coming-of-age story of a woman in her thirties. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the story of Yara, a 30-something daughter of Palestinian immigrants who has it all—but who still feels burnt out and wishes for more. After an incident at her job, she starts seeing a therapist, begins to confront the trauma of her past, and works toward a better future. Assadourian skillfully narrates Yara’s emotional arc in the story, while Shalan performs Yara’s journal entries, giving listeners more insight into Yara’s memories.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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LAND OF MILK AND HONEY by C Pam Zhang, read by Eunice Wong

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Eunice Wong performs this immersive tale of an Asian American chef during an apocalyptic event in Earth’s near future. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Wong captures the chef’s strong narrative voice. The unnamed narrator is unable to return to America after smog covers the globe, blocking sunlight and killing most of Earth’s plants and animals. To escape impending disaster, the chef takes a job cooking for a billionaire living in an isolated compound on the top of a mountain above the smog. As the chef falls in love, creates new dishes, and ponders what her future has in store, Wong beautifully captures the chef’s narrative voice. One of the must-listen audiobooks of 2023.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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HAPPINESS FALLS by Angie Kim, read by Shannon Tyo, Sean Patrick Hopkins, Thomas Pruyn, Angie Kim

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Shannon Tyo, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Thomas Pruyn perform this riveting story that begs the question, how well do we truly know the members of our family? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story Kendra calls one of the best of 2023. Twenty-year-old Mia and her twin brother are home from college during the pandemic. Their father goes missing while at the park with their younger brother Eugene, who is autistic. Tyo perfectly captures Mia’s narrative voice as we follow the frantic search for their father. Hopkins performs journal entries from the father’s perspective, and Pruyn, an autistic performer, narrates Eugene’s point of view.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Random House.

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THE FRAUD by Zadie Smith, read by Zadie Smith

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Zadie Smith expertly performs her historical novel inspired by true events. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story set in 1873, when Mrs. Eliza Touchet, a Scottish housekeeper, is watching the trial of a working-class Australian man who claims to be the true inheritor of a great estate and title. Listeners explore Mrs Touchet’s past and get the perspective on an enslaved man called upon as a star witness. Smith’s performance is an equal match to her prose. Her narration possesses considerable emotional depth, and she delivers lines with her characteristic searing wit.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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EVERY DROP IS A MAN'S NIGHTMARE by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, read by Michelle Sekine

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Michelle Sekine performs this debut short story collection by Native Hawaiian and Japanese American author Megan Kamalei Kakimoto. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how the collection celebrates what it means to be Kānaka Maoli, in all of its complexities and contradictions. Each story examines the life of a different woman or girl as they try to make their way in the world. Sekine’s narration skillfully anchors listeners in each story, and her performance gives listeners additional depth of emotional insight.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

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THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron, read by Gerard Doyle

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Gerard Doyle performs this stand-alone dispatch from Mick Herron’s cynical “spook street” world with such dry resignation that it is often laugh-out-loud funny, or would be if it weren’t so believable. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how perfectly Doyle narrates this series, laconic at just the right points while also slyly building tension. His vocal control is masterly, and his pacing, range, and attention to detail a perfect match for Herron’s. Fans of Herron’s Slough House novels and new listeners alike will find a lot to enjoy in this latest audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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DEAD MAN'S POSE by Susan Rogers, John Roosen, read by Rupert Degas

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Rupert Degas takes listeners to Sydney, Australia, where Elaina Williams and yoga student Ric Peters are shocked to find a student dead after class. Degas’s spirited Elaina and ingenious Ric delightfully play off each other—the most fun arises from their zany disguises as they try to learn whether the student died of natural causes. Audio is ideal since conversations and evocative descriptions abound in this start to a quirky new series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Yoga Mat Mysteries.

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THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BIG BAD WOLF by Alexander McCall Smith, read by David Rintoul

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator David Rintoul returns in another charming trip to Alexander McCall Smith’s Department of Sensitive Crimes. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this tongue-in-cheek take on the dour Scandi noir genre, with Detective Ulf Varg investigating the missing cabin of a bacon magnate while negotiating trouble at work. Rintoul strikes the perfect balance between seriousness and satire. His tone of wry affability as Ulf and his voicing of various secondary characters will keep listeners absorbed and smiling.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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THE STOLEN COAST by Dwyer Murphy, read by Robert Petkoff

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Robert Petkoff is the perfect narrator for Dwyer Murphy’s quirky heist novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this New England noir crime novel with an engaging narration. Jack Betancourt is a people mover — when questionable people need to disappear, Jack is their go-to guy. When his ex-girlfriend returns to Jack’s tiny beach town with a plan for a heist, things do not go according to plan, and Petkoff’s narration grows ominous. Well-defined characters; an attention-grabbing, highly original plot; and Petkoff’s superb performance make this an audiobook not to miss.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE LONGMIRE DEFENSE by Craig Johnson, read by George Guidall

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

George Guidall once again enchants listeners with his performance in this 19th audiobook in Craig Johnson’s Longmire series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this new title that dives back into a 70-year-old crime involving Longmire’s grandfather. Guidall’s rich, weathered tones continue to be the perfect match for the series characters. Listeners learn more about Longmire’s family history, Wyoming’s government and financial structures, rules of law in the Wild West, and Longmire’s current love life. In this captivating audiobook, Johnson’s atmospheric storytelling and Guidall's masterful delivery engage from start to finish.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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THE PARA METHOD by Tiago Forte, read by Tiago Forte

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Tiago Forte reads his updated 2022 book on digital organizing with a laid-back and inviting narrating style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this organization system that uses four categories to define your files: Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives, that works with any digital platform. It is a brief and easy to follow title written to help listeners achieve more of what is important, keep track of essential information, and let go of what is not needed.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter.

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SURE, I'LL JOIN YOUR CULT by Maria Bamford, read by Maria Bamford

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Stand-up comic Maria Bamford shows her sense of timing, audience, and humor as she narrates her memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Bamford’s audiobook that takes listeners all through her life, dealing with mental health, eating disorders, and more, following a nonlinear structure. While pondering bouts of mental illness and her need to belong, Bamford continually takes detours filled with irreverent, laugh-worthy details and tongue-in-cheek observations. All are delivered at breakneck speed, and the brisk nonstop humor buoys Bamford’s moments of candor.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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CONGRATULATIONS, THE BEST IS OVER! by R. Eric Thomas, read by R. Eric Thomas

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Writer R. Eric Thomas’s second essay collection is just as funny and exuberant as his debut—and if possible, even more nuanced and moving. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Thomas’s fun and heartfelt narration of his collection that’s laugh-out-loud funny but real enough to make you cry. Writing about the complicated emotions that arise when he moves back to his hometown, the beautiful challenges of marriage, the isolation of the pandemic, and so much more, Thomas offers a heartfelt “I see you” to anyone who’s ever been lost, grieving, or stuck.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THICKER THAN WATER by Kerry Washington, read by Kerry Washington

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kerry Washington’s heartfelt memoir takes listeners from her childhood in the Bronx through her award-winning acting career. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss an audiobook narrated by the author with ferociousness and emotional intelligence. Washington recounts her extraordinary life as an actor, an activist who aims to break down barriers, and a devoted daughter, mentor, director, and producer. She narrates with grace and style as she offers candid moments of joy and anguish, making for moving listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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WHALEFALL by Daniel Kraus, read by Kirby Heyborne

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Kirby Heyborne embodies the gruesomeness, terror, and beauty in Daniel Kraus’s novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of a scuba dive that goes horribly wrong. Teenage scuba diver Jay is consumed by guilt as he seeks to find the remains of his father, who died by suicide, in the Pacific Ocean. As Jay searches the ocean’s depths, he’s swallowed by a sperm whale. Heyborne’s performance robustly expands Krauss’s intense tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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STUNTBOY, IN-BETWEEN TIME by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, James Fouhey, and a Full Cast

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Guy Lockard is the energetic and enthusiastic heart of this new Stuntboy adventure from Jason Reynolds, narrated by a talented cast with lively music and goofy sound effects. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this sequel to the Audie, Odyssey, and Best Audiobook award-winning title from Jason Reynolds. All of the action takes place in Portico’s building, where he lives with his parents and Gran Gran. At least, they used to all live together—now Portico’s parents have split up. Portico is sent from his mother’s to his father’s new apartment and encounters friends along the way, managing to find adventure absolutely everywhere in the building BUT his dad’s place. This audiobook is absolutely hilarious and, at the same time, is a heartfelt story about managing big changes in the family.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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CHINESE MENU by Grace Lin, read by Lisa Ling

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Lisa Ling delivers Grace Lin’s delectable food-based tales drawn from Chinese Culture. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this fun and fascinating children’s audiobook all about the foods you’ll discover on menus in American Chinese restaurants, delving into the history and mythology behind everything from the importance of tea to the delightfully named Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. In a conversational tone, Ling describes an iconic dish, offers historical context and etymology, and transitions into tales about dragons, monks, emperors, and many creative chefs. Grace Lin herself reads a moving author’s note. This audiobook will fill listeners up with wonder and knowledge.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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GODKILLER by Hannah Kaner, read by Kit Griffiths

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Hannah Kaner’s fantasy with captivating world-building and characters requires an expert emotional performance—and Kit Griffiths delivers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this rich fantasy where gods live and fight—and die—alongside people. After Kissen’s family is sacrificed by followers of a reckless fire deity, she dedicates her life to hunting gods. But her path changes when she meets Inara, a young heiress who is mysteriously linked to a small god of white lies. Traveling alongside Elogast, a soldier turned baker, the group battle demons and outrun curses. Griffiths is the perfect narrator to usher listeners through this queer-normative fantasy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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VAMPIRES OF EL NORTE by Isabel Cañas, read by Jose Nateras, Krysta Gonzales

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jose Nateras and Krysta Gonzales convey the romance and spine-tingling horrors in this audiobook set during the Mexican-American war. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this new novel from Isabel Cañas, author of THE HACIENDA. Nateras narrates as Néstor, channeling his dread at being summoned back to the rancho where, 9 years ago, he witnessed his best friend’s gruesome death at the hands of a monster. He’s shocked to discover Nena is alive, angry, and has no time for Néstor’s excuses. Gonzales's sweet-voiced Nena is full of determination—she wants her father, the Patrón, to value her as a healer, not to marry her off. They journey north to protect their land, and while the war is dangerous, there are nightmarish creatures lurking in the dark chaparral. A mesmerizing listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE VASTER WILDS by Lauren Groff, read by January LaVoy

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy gives a breathtaking narration of an astonishing historical novel from Lauren Groff. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story set in 1609 that starts with a servant girl fleeing from a failing colony into the forest. What follows is a dramatic, beautifully wrought story of survival, narrated with precision, emotion, and a keen sense of the story. LaVoy puts care into every word she narrates as the girl struggles through the wilds, heightening the joy of discovering any small sustenance, her determination to go on, and the many terrors she leaves behind. A propulsive and unforgettable listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE BOUNTY by Caroline Alexander, read by Nicholas Boulton

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The beautiful tone and pure British diction of Nicholas Boulton are put to fine use in this history of the mutiny on HMS BOUNTY. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how this history differs from previous explorations of the BOUNTY mutiny. Golden Voice Boulton has a masterful ability to let this fascinating re-creation of events unfold for listeners. His performance highlights how this often romanticized story made Captain Bligh into a monster and Fletcher Christian a Byronic hero, interpretations that the record doesn’t reveal or corroborate. This is a long but satisfying listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE DEEPEST MAP by Laura Trethewey, read by Gabra Zackman

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Gabra Zackman brings her convincing style, resonant tone, and exacting timing to Laura Trethewey’s exploration of the deep sea. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Zackman’s authoritative tone works with this fascinating story of ocean mapping and high-seas adventures. The implications of mapping the ocean floors, which we know less about than the surfaces of the moon or Mars, are extraordinary. There are minerals, buried ships, and undiscovered life forms, as well as possible hidden secrets of the origin of our species.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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WASTELAND by Oliver Franklin-Wallis, read by Chris Harper

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Chris Harper has his work cut out for him in Oliver Franklin-Wallis’s chilling audiobook about waste around the globe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the challenge of maintaining a reportorial tone amid the horrifying reports of toxic mountains of garbage. He keeps the right pace and cadence as he recounts the author’s discoveries, including an island of plastic three times the size of France floating in the Pacific, corporate mismanagement, the idiocy of fast fashion, and more. He captures the author’s urgent call for change in these profiles, stories, and facts.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE HEAT WILL KILL YOU FIRST by Jeff Goodell, read by L.J. Ganser

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

L.J. Ganser superbly reads Goodell’s audiobook on the dramatic impact of climate change on our planet. As host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss, the book explores the how and why of global heat and its devastating effects, from wildfires to melting glaciers. Ganser delivers an exceptional performance. With a bold and intense delivery, Ganser transforms the investigative report into a masterpiece. Anyone concerned about our future and that of future generations should listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE PARROT AND THE IGLOO by David Lipsky, read by Mike Chamberlain

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Mike Chamberlain’s believable tone and unhurried pace make him a great choice to narrate this audiobook subtitled “Climate and the Science of Denial.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story examining facts versus falsehoods, and the climate-change deniers. These are the folks who still pit themselves against the scientists revealing unyielding truths of melting glaciers, warming temperatures, and catastrophic weather events. Chamberlain’s careful narration of Lipsky’s punchy prose makes this enjoyable, informative listening despite the dire nature of the topic.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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THE APOLOGY by Jimin Han, read by Kathleen Kim

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kathleen Kim’s magnificent performance brings out the complexity and drama in Jimin Han’s outstanding saga. Kim is the compelling voice of Jeonga Cha, a strong-willed woman who is haunted by the decisions she made based on pride and honor. Generations later, as a ghost, she must rectify the consequences of her actions. The wide range of emotions in Kim’s evocative narration deftly reveals Jeonga Cha’s evolving voices as woman, daughter, mother, sister, and grandmother across the intersections of political and cultural divides during her lifetime.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Hachette Audio.

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FAMILY LORE by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Danyeli Rodriguez del Orbe, Elizabeth Acevedo, Sixta Morel

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Three narrators portray the viewpoints of uncommon women leading full, magical lives in Elizabeth Acevedo’s first novel for adults. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of Flor, an older Dominican American woman who decides to throw herself a living wake. One of four sisters, Flor dreams about when people are going to die. Author Acevedo narrates the majority of the novel; her poignant turns of phrase and delivery in English and Spanish provide a musical listening experience. Sixta Morel portrays the four sisters’ passions and gifts, while Danyeli Rodriguez del Orbe portrays the youthful Yadi.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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KUKUM by Michel Jean, Susan Ouriou [Trans.], read by Erin Tripp

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Erin Tripp, a Lingít actor and performer, narrates this historical novel based on author Michel Jean’s Innu ancestry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Tripp evokes the snowy landscape and beautiful sections of nature writing. Almanda Siméon, the daughter of Irish immigrants, falls in love with Thomas, an Innu man, and is welcomed in his Pekuakami Innu community. Tripp perfectly pastures Almanda’s horror and fury as she experiences the loss of her community’s Indigenous lands to the lumber industry and the removal of her children and grandchildren to residential schools. Tripp’s skillful narration makes for an immersive listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THOSE WE THOUGHT WE KNEW by David Joy, read by MacLeod Andrews

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

MacLeod Andrews performs David Joy’s riveting novel set in the mountains of western North Carolina in 2019. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this literary crime novel about Toya, a young Black artist from Atlanta who returns to her grandmother’s Appalachian town to learn more about her family’s history. When she discovers a Confederate statue in town, she calls for its removal. At the same time, a white deputy discovers a list of high-ranking members of the Klan. Andrews captures the rising tension as these two characters become hopelessly intertwined.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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TOM LAKE by Ann Patchett, read by Meryl Streep

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Meryl Streep’s captivating performance of Ann Patchett’s new novel transforms this fine book into a must-listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this Earphones Award-winning audiobook about the Nelson family isolating together during the start of the Covid pandemic. Lara entertains her daughters with memories of working in summer stock theater at nearby Tom Lake and dating an actor who became a famous movie star. It’s a beautiful warm hug of an audiobook about a mother and the relationship she has with her children. Streep narrates with breathtaking sensitivity, savoring along with us the novel’s many lessons and satisfactions.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan’s performance is so consistently gripping that listeners may attempt to finish this entire audiobook in one sitting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this bestselling story of a decades-old murder at a New Hampshire boarding school. A successful podcaster, Bodie teaches a course on the subject at her alma mater, and one of her students turns to that murder for inspiration on her school project. As the research progresses, Bodie is forced to confront complicated relationships with those involved—and becomes obsessed as they work to find the real culprit. JD Jackson shines in a pivotal cameo that is essential to the story and a bonus for audiobook fans.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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BAD CREE: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Tanis Parenteau leaps right into narrating this chilling debut horror novel from Jessica Johns. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story of dreams come to life — but these dreams are full of crows and sinister winter woods. Parenteau portrays all of Mackenzie’s anxiety, quickening her pace as her nightmares turn more sinister. She lives a solitary life far from her Cree family’s home, and still feels isolated when she returns home. The suspense mounts as Mackenzie and her family share secrets, racing to discover the deadly source of the nightmares.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood

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THE WAGER: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

David Grann’s enthralling audiobook is performed wonderfully by Dion Graham, a master narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this compelling tale of a shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. Dion Graham commands the listener’s attention with this true story of HMS WAGER, an English warship that sailed in the 1740s. The excitement and peril of the high seas are captured through the dramatic accounts of remarkable perseverance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio

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HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Amina Koroma and Jonathan Andrew Hume bring liveliness and charm to this utterly delightful YA debut from Talia Hibbert, a beloved British romance author. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook full of humor and heart. Koroma delivers all of the snark and wit of Celine, a stellar student and TikTok star who is ready to take on the world—starting with a wilderness adventure that could win the attention of her hero. Unfortunately, her ex-best-friend-now-rival Brad is coming along, and is being way too cute. Listeners are certain to laugh, cheer, and root for the two to find their way back into each other’s hearts.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the start of a fun and unusual new mystery series from Jesse Q. Sutanto, narrated with brisk humor by Eunice Wong. The lonely existence of 60-year-old Chinese immigrant Vera Wong takes a wild turn when she discovers a dead body in her rundown San Francisco tea shop. Vera is a woman of strong opinions and decisive actions, and Wong’s crisp, accented portrayal reveals all of Vera’s amusing, endearing, and exasperating traits. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE RAGING STORM by Ann Cleeves, read by Jack Holden

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jack Holden’s return to narrate the third installment in Ann Cleeves’s Matthew Venn series is a treat. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a story full of twists and turns that will keep listeners engaged. Cleeves’s descriptive prowess transports listeners to the bleak and formidable cliffs of Greystone, Devon. When adventurer Jem Roscoe is found dead in a dinghy after a raging storm, Detective Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate. Holden masterfully conveys their inner struggles, rounding out the humanity of the investigators.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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LEARNED BY HEART by Emma Donoghue, read by Shiromi Arserio

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Shiromi Arserio is the ideal choice for this touching novel about two 14-year-old girls who attend a boarding school in York, England, in 1805. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Arserio’s compassionate portrayal of these unforgettable characters. Arserio vividly conveys the emotional complexities of Eliza Raine, a lonely, wealthy orphan from India, and Anne Lister, an audacious, highly intelligent tomboy. The social outcasts quickly become inseparable, and their friendship blossoms into desire and poignant first love. Then Anne flees the school, leaving Raine behind.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE FIRST LADY OF WORLD WAR II by Shannon McKenna Schmidt, read by Suzanne Toren

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Suzanne Toren’s rich, assured performance transports listeners in this absorbing discussion of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s World War II contributions. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Eleanor expanded the role of First Lady during wartime by becoming actively involved in social issues and traveling widely. She visited troops stationed in the Pacific theater, providing practical support and bolstering troop’s morale. An archived radio broadcast of Eleanor’s speech to New Zealanders concludes the production.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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HOMECOMING by Kate Morton, read by Claire Foy

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Claire Foy gives listeners a remarkable performance of Kate Morton’s sweeping new novel about family, love, and secrets. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a mysterious story about one family’s secrets. On Christmas Day, 1959, a bizarre tragedy strikes the Turner family of South Australia. In 2018, Jess Turner, a London-based journalist, is summoned back to Sydney, and she stumbles across the decades-old mystery that leaves her wrestling with the stunning truth of what has been done in the name of love and family. Foy varies her intonation, pace, and pitch to create indelible audio portraits of diverse characters who range from a grocer to a grand dame.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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THE BOOKBINDER by Pip Williams, read by Annabelle Tudor

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Annabelle Tudor completely inhabits the English characters at the center of this engrossing tale of gender, class, and World War I. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a story of Peggy and Maude, bookbinders at Oxford University Press. Peggy’s intellectual curiosity is discernible in her voice; she chafes at the reminder that her job is to bind the books, not read them. Maude, who is neurodivergent, has a knack for parroting the core words of every conversation. Tudor rounds her vowels for upper-class female students, and adopts a light accent for the Belgian WWI refugees. A fabulous performance highlighting a wonderful story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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GOODBYE EARL by Leesa Cross-Smith, read by Mela Lee, Kamali Minter, Sarah Beth Goer, Erin Bennett, Traci Odom, Julian Thomas

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This heartfelt audiobook about four friends who are seeking revenge is a must-listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Leesa Cross-Smith’s novel set in a small town. Mela Lee narrates as Kasey, who has returned home and is haunted by the truth of her mother’s death. She reunites with three friends, Ada, Rosemarie, and Caroline. Caroline has recently married the town’s richest bachelor, Trey, but when his abusive behavior sends Caroline to the hospital, the other girls plan his murder, frustrated with a justice system that protects its privileged citizens while leaving women to suffer.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF ILL-MANNERED LADIES by Alison Goodman, read by Kristin Atherton

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kristen Atherton’s excellent use of accents, inflection, and tempo brings Alison Goodman’s characters to life in a lively feminist Regency adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a story of single 42-year-old twin sisters, Augusta and Julia, who are way ahead of their time. They may be considered “on the shelf” by some, but others know them as determined deliverers of women and girls in calamitous situations. Atherton’s animated performance captures all the aristocratic and dastardly characters in three interlocking stories that will delight fans of Regency fare.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE WHISPERS by Ashley Audrain, read by Jill Winternitz

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jill Winternitz perfectly captures the strain of maintaining facades in her narration of four women forced to confront unearthed truths. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ashley Audrain’s suspenseful thriller about the bitter secrets, despair, and rage hidden away in a quiet neighborhood. From the first crack in the veneer at a neighborhood barbecue to a tragic incident befalling one of their children, each woman’s world starts to unravel and affect the other women in the group.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ALISON BECHDEL'S DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR by Alison Bechdel, Madeleine George, read by Jane Lynch, Carrie Brownstein, Roberta Colindrez, Roxane Gay, and a Full Cast

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

This full-cast audio adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s classic comic strip about the messy lives of a group of queer women in the 1980s is absolutely flawless. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this hilarious, heartfelt, and utterly compelling adaptation of a lesbian classic. Jane Lynch grounds the production as the narrator, and Carrie Brownstein gives a knockout performance as Mo, a self-righteous but well-intentioned lesbian who is prone to panic attacks. Sound effects, music, and a delightful full cast make for a vibrant and engaging listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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BEWARE THE WOMAN by Megan Abbott, read by Brittany Pressley

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Brittany Pressley captures a young woman’s fear as her world closes in on her. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Megan Abbott’s mystery about a family vacation gone wrong. Newly married Jacy and Jed are traveling to the wilds of Michigan to meet Jed’s parents. But soon things start to feel off, especially when Jed’s father, Dr. Ash, takes an uneasy interest in Jacy’s pregnancy. Pressley provides the perfect mix of mounting terror and rage and creates a progressively suffocating environment that makes for a diabolical character and a very satisfying listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Christine Baranski and Jesse Green in conversation about SHY

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Actor Christine Baranski and New York Times theater Jesse Green join host Jo Reed in a special bonus edition of Behind the Mic. The two joined forces to create the audiobook of SHY: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers, written by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green. Listen to our interview to hear from Jesse Green about how this lively and memorable book was written, and how Christine Baranski’s talented narration brings this unusual memoir to life.

Mary Rodgers was the daughter of the composer Richard Rodgers, and was a musical theater composer herself, as well as an author, philanthropist, and mother of six children. She was a funny, honest, and self-effacing woman who knew everyone in American musical theater and worked with quite a few. She wrote her memoir in collaboration with Jesse Green, who completed it after her death in 2014. As much a portrait of a smart and talented woman trying to carve out a creative life for herself as it is an insider’s look at musical theater in the mid-twentieth century, the book is a tour-de-force. The audiobook is performed by the award-winning actor Christine Baranski in what amounts to a terrific one-woman show, while Jesse Green himself narrates the footnotes.

Read our review of SHY on AudioFile’s website.

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WE STILL BELONG by Christine Day, read by Katie Anvil Rich

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Katie Anvil Rich gives an engaging narration of a heartwarming middle grade audiobook that takes place over the course of a single day. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Christine Day’s newest quiet, thoughtful audiobook exploring identity and belonging. Rich captures Wesley’s nervous excitement for this year’s Indigenous People’s Day. She’s publishing a poem on the holiday in her middle school paper, and she’s going to ask her cute gaming club crush out to a school dance. When nothing goes as planned, she feels heartbroken and uncertain about her place in the world. Rich’s dynamic and youthful voice captures all of the ups and downs as Wesley finds loving support from her friends, her intergenerational family, and her community at an intertribal powwow.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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THE SCOURGE BETWEEN STARS by Ness Brown, read by Bahni Turpin

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Bahni Turpin’s performance raises the emotional stakes in this claustrophobic space thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the Golden Voice narrator’s skilled narration of an intergalactic space voyage gone horribly wrong. Jacklyn Albright finds herself suddenly the acting leader of the CALYPSO, a ship voyaging back to Earth from a failed attempt at colonizing a distant planet. They’ve lost contact with the other ships in the fleet and are facing a mutiny from the hungry passengers—and they discover bloodthirsty aliens living in the walls. Turpin’s vocal pacing sets this performance apart, giving listeners both the heart-pounding speed and eerie calm that bring the thrills to life.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio.

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CAMP DAMASCUS by Chuck Tingle, read by Mara Wilson

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Mara Wilson expertly narrates a queer horror novel about an evangelical religious community in Montana and the gay conversion therapy camp at its heart. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this new audiobook from internet sensation Chuck Tingle, read with skill by Mara Wilson. Rose Darling is twenty, and while she never went to Camp Damascus, she knows people who have—they just won't talk about it. The novel takes a sharp turn into the surreal in the first chapter when Rose vomits up mayflies at the dinner table and her parents pass it off as a fluke. Wilson narrates with emotional depth, conveying all of Rose’s intelligence, inquisitiveness, and fear as she’s hunted by otherworldly beings.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dominic Hoffman fully inhabits the characters in McBride’s fresh, vital, and beautifully written historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this latest audiobook from the National Book Award-winning author. The story takes place in the 1930s in Chicken Hill, a predominantly Black and Jewish neighborhood in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Hoffman varies his accent and intonation for the large cast of characters who impact each other’s lives, from Chona, the owner of the titular grocery store to Dodo, a 12-year-old Deaf boy. Hoffman gives a mesmerizing performance as McBride explores themes of racism and antisemitism, the immigrant experience and the human experience, and the consequences of acts of evil and kindness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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SILVER NITRATE by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Gisela Chípe

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Gisela Chípe’s skilled narration captivates in this immersive novel set in ‘90s Mexico City. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this thrilling mystery with a supernatural bent. Montserrat and Tristán have been friends since childhood, and now both are struggling in their film careers. When they meet a cult favorite horror director, Abel Urueta, he convinces them to help complete his decades-old film that he says was cursed by the death of the Nazi occultist behind it. Chípe conveys all of their mounting dread and fear as they’re drawn into a world of sinister magic and dangerous cultists and discover the true powers of silver nitrate film.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LAST HONEST MAN by James Risen, Thomas Risen, read by Kevin Stillwell

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kevin Stillwell narrates an overdue biographical history like a reporter pursuing the story of a lifetime. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this history of the 1975 Senate Committee that unearthed the multiple crimes and misdeeds of our nation’s secret agencies, ranging from assassination plots to wire taps to illegal intelligence gathering. Ultimately the Committee, chaired by Idaho Senator Frank Church, uncovered CIA partnerships with the Mafia, FBI extra-legal pursuits, and NSA domestic spying operations.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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AUGUST BLUE by Deborah Levy, read by Alix Dunmore

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Alix Dunmore’s lilting voice and English accent capture the musicality of Deborah Levy’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this fascinating portrait of a woman in crisis. Elsa, a virtuoso pianist, is at a standstill. She dyes her hair blue and sets about inventing a new persona. The pandemic is taking place as the plot moves around Europe. Elsa’s quest is aided by a doppelganger who appears sometimes as a person, sometimes as a figment of Elsa’s imagination. Levy expertly creates scenes packed with meaning as Elsa comes to understand her provenance, passion, and place in the world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS by Claire Fuller, read by Genevieve Gaunt

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Genevieve Gaunt performs this compelling audiobook of a near future pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of a survivor, Neffy, who is portrayed with a vulnerable and youthful tone. Gaunt’s crisp English accent works well with this post-apocalyptic London setting. Neffy and four other 20-something survivors are living in a “biopharm” facility and coming to terms with the ghastly reality outside. An engaging and immersive listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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SHY by Mary Rodgers, Jesse Green, read by Christine Baranski, Jesse Green

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Christine Baranski brings intelligence, energy, and impeccable timing to her narration of this tell-all memoir by Mary Rodgers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Baranski captures the many Marys—the unliked daughter, the composer, the mother of six, the longtime companion of Sondheim and collaborator with Leonard Bernstein. Known for writing the musical ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, hundreds of songs, and the kids’ book FREAKY FRIDAY, Rodgers is also witty, self-effacing, and a fine storyteller.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Spiegel & Grau by OrangeSky Audio.

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I AM HOMELESS IF THIS IS NOT MY HOME by Lorrie Moore, read by Sophie Amoss

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Sophie Amoss does a neat turn narrating Lorrie Moore’s enigmatic novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Amoss’s subtle and compelling narration style. She smoothly switches between characters and from the diction of the 1870s to the world of 2016. Straightforwardly portraying two disturbed women—one an unlikely murderess, the other suicidal—she is convincing. This is fiction packed with ideas and creative sleight of hand.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling.

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SIPPING DOM PÉRIGNON THROUGH A STRAW by Eddie Ndopu, read by Eddie Ndopu

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Eddie Ndopu performs his memoir, bringing his story to life with his thoughtful narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Ndopu tells his story of growing up, and his thrilling acceptance with a full scholarship at Oxford University. But when he tries discussing his needs as someone with spinal muscular atrophy, the university informs him their scholarship won’t cover his caregiver’s salary. Ndopu’s narration captures his intense discouragement and despair, but listeners will also hear the steel enter his voice as he pushes back, insists on his rights as a disabled person in university and beyond, and advocates for equitable accommodations.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE SAY SO by Julia Franks, read by Laura Horowitz, Molly Secours, Rachel L. Jacobs, Colin Martin

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

A talented ensemble performs Julia Franks's historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of an unintended pregnancy in 1950s North Carolina. Edie Carrigan’s parents tell her she must keep her pregnancy a secret and send her to a house for unwed mothers where she’s expected to give the child up for adoption once she gives birth. Molly Secours beautifully captures Edie’s emotional devastation as she fights to keep her baby. Laura Horowitz, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Colin Martin brilliantly narrate the other viewpoint characters, who are each tied to Edie’s life in ways that are slowly revealed throughout the story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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THE POSTCARD by Anne Berest, Tina Kover [Trans.], read by Barrie Kealoha

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Barrie Kealoha delivers an absorbing performance of Anne Berest’s stunning autobiographical novel exploring her family’s tragic yet resilient heritage. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how the story begins when Anne’s mother receives a decades-old postcard in the mail, in 2003. The postcard lists four relatives who died in Auschwitz. Fifteen years later, Anne decides to investigate the Jewish family’s fate, including their flight from Russia. Kealoha delivers the powerful result with admirable clarity and excellent pacing that fully draw in the listener. She gives a riveting performance, imbuing the narration with emotion.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Europa Editions.

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DEEP AS THE SKY, RED AS THE SEA by Rita Chang-Eppig, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Emily Woo Zeller narrates the story of the life of infamous Chinese pirate queen Shek Yeung. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this historical fiction novel based on the fierce pirate. When Shek Yeung sees her husband slaughtered during a raid, she immediately sets into place plans to keep her unsteady pirate fleet together amid many challenges. She fights to protect her growing fleet and family, no matter the cost. Zeller gives an energetic performance and strong character work that make this story all the more worthy of the listener’s attention.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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EL DEAFO by Cece Bell, read by Sarah Tubert, Lexi Finigan, Jennifer Aquino, Fred Berman, Bailey Carr, Nicky Endres, Matt Godfrey, Avi Roque, Sanya Simmons

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Cece Bell’s graphic memoir for kids is brilliantly adapted for audio with a full cast and thoughtful production. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Cece’s story, which starts in her early childhood when she lost her hearing after an illness and continues through to middle school. Cece starts school with special earphones attached to a box around her neck, connected to a mic worn by her teachers—not always correctly—and she imagines herself a superhero able to hear her teachers as they travel around the school. She begins to navigate making friends and also deals with bullying. The audiobook editing imitates what Cece hears through her hearing aids, illustrating the different kinds of sounds she experiences. With vibrant performances from the cast and the careful production, EL DEAFO makes for an engaging audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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ZERO DAYS by Ruth Ware, read by Imogen Church

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Imogen Church performs Ruth Ware’s suspenseful mystery with conviction. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this thriller where Church once again makes each character distinct and memorable. Jack and her husband, Gabe, work in the security field. After a long night working on a test gone awry, Jack returns home to find Gabe dead, and she soon discovers she’s the leading suspect in the case and flees. This is a thriller worth listening to.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE KIND WORTH SAVING by Peter Swanson, read by Keith Szarabajka, Kathleen Early, Helen Laser, Micky Shiloah

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Four narrators coordinate their performances perfectly in Peter Swanson’s cleverly crafted audiobook about a flawed private detective who becomes involved in the machinations of a woman from his past. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss listening to this sequel to THE KIND WORTH KILLING, where Keith Szarabajka gives voice to detective Henry Kimball. Helen Laser delivers the backstory of his manipulative client, while Micky Shiloah is convincing as her gullible husband. Kathleen Early reprises her role from the earlier novel, returning as the disturbed Lily. Pay close attention, as nothing is what it really seems.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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SUNSHINE by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, read by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Jaiden Meltzer, Xavier Krosoczka, Noah Rico, and a Full Cast

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s second memoir, following HEY, KIDDO, recounts his experiences as a teen counselor at a summer camp for terminally ill children. At the camp, Jarrett uses his gift for drawing to document and access his feelings for fellow counselors, and most importantly, the campers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this powerful adaptation of Krosoczka’s graphic memoir, with the coordination of more than 50 narrators, carefully selected music, and sound effects that enhance the action. Watch Krosoczka’s video for more on how he and the publisher adapted his graphic book to audio.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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FLAGS ON THE BAYOU by James Lee Burke, read by MacLeod Andrews, Michael Crouch, Dana Gourrier, Marin Ireland, January LaVoy, Ray Porter, James Lee Burke [Epilogue]

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

A series of introspective monologues is brought vividly to life in six stellar performances. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about this collection of reflective first-person monologues by soldiers, slave owners, and free and enslaved women. The setting is Louisiana during the late days of the Civil War, and the narrators portray all manner of humanity, delivering deeply felt first-person stories that neatly intertwine. Author James Lee Burke delivers his introduction and epilogue. A reminder of the disastrous results that once arose in a divided nation.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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GENTLEMAN OF JAZZ by Ramsey Lewis, Aaron Cohen, read by Dion Graham

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham’s brisk pacing works well to invite listeners into the energetic life and career of jazz icon Ramsey Lewis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this delightful memoir for jazz lovers and newcomers alike. Graham has once again captured the essence of a great jazz musician in this audiobook, and his deftly modulated performance celebrates the musician’s remarkable story and long career. This audiobook defines an important American musician who made major contributions to twentieth-century jazz. His memoir was completed just before his death in 2022.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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In Conversation with Kevin R. Free, 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Kevin R. Free joins host Jo Reed for a conversation about his impressive audiobook work, his acting career, and being named a 2023 Golden Voice narrator. Kevin is a multiple Earphones Award winner for a wide range of audiobooks, from children’s stories to literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and fantastic science fiction. There are few narrators who can match his versatility and perceptive performances across genres.

Kevin has had an extraordinary career, both in the recording booth and in theater as an actor, a director, a playwright, and an artistic director. He’s recorded 450 audiobooks, including Martha Wells’s wildly popular Murderbot Diaries series, Brandon Taylor’s insightful works, and many memorable children’s audiobooks. Listen in to Kevin and Jo’s lively conversation to learn more about how he brings joy into the recording booth, the thought and care he puts into creating voices for every character, and more.

Read reviews of many of Kevin R. Free’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

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ALL THE GOLD STARS by Rainesford Stauffer, read by Jess Nahikian

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jess Nahikian’s voice sounds assured, comfortable, and clear, but their real achievement is how well their performance connects with Rainesford Stauffer’s thoughtful perspectives and desire to help young people. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook all about ambition, hustle, and the burden of the idea that we all need to get ahead. The audiobook is a calm but persistent plea for people to resist societal messages around hustle, and that we should never be satisfied with our accomplishments but always pushing for more. With the help of Nahikian’s comfortable speaking style and support of the author’s intentions, this audiobook is one that will make listeners take a hard look at overly ambitious lifestyles that don’t allow room for imagination, joy, or healthy relationships.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE ART THIEF by Michael Finkel, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Michael Finkel [Note]

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Michael Finkel narrates the opening of his audiobook, a memorable portrait of Stéphane Breitwieser, the sly European thief who pilfered nearly $2 billion in art objects. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s smooth, enticing narration of the rest of the audiobook, making it a true-crime listen that is easy to devour. Breitwieser’s story is dramatic, highly cinematic, but ultimately sad. It is a compelling and shocking listen, and Ballerini’s skill and artistry with his narration heightens the mood.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LIBRARIANIST by Patrick deWitt, read by Jim Meskimen

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jim Meskimen presents Patrick deWitt’s tribute to reading, books, and librarians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a lonely retired librarian, Bob, whose life is changed when he rescues a lost woman, returns her to her care home, and surprises himself by volunteering there. Meskimen’s unhurried pace is appropriate as Bob reveals his life story, from running away at age 11 to the recent past, when he was betrayed by his wife and best friend. Meskimen flawlessly portrays Bob with heartbreak and humor. A lovely listen with a fitting narration from a talented voice.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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HONEY, BABY, MINE by Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Reese Witherspoon [Fore.], read by Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Reese Witherspoon [Fore.]

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Laura Dern and Diane Ladd’s genre-bending collection of searingly intimate real-life conversations exemplifies everything that is exciting about audio as a medium. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ladd and Dern’s conversational memoir. When Ladd is diagnosed with lung scarring, she’s given six months to live and told exercise is her only chance for improvement. Her daughter, Dern, proposes daily walks, with the commitment to leave nothing between them unsaid. Listening to these raw conversations would feel voyeuristic if the emotional themes the women cover weren’t so universal.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE ART OF THE STRAIGHT LINE by Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, read by Laurie Anderson and a Full Cast

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Laurie Anderson, the late Lou Reed’s wife and sometimes collaborator, invites listeners to learn about Reed’s passion for tai chi and how it saved his life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook full of interviews and short pieces describing Reed. Ten years after his passing, Anderson and her three co-editors have created a reflective, meditative collage of an artist and his private passion. The audiobook is a realistic, often endearing, portrait of Reed, with interviewees including Iggy Pop, the magician Penn Jillette, and director Darren Aronofsky sharing their thoughts on Reed’s relationship with tai chi.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT: AudioFile Favorites

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kyle Lukoff’s DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT, which Emily highly recommends as family listening. Narrator Cassandra Morris’s bright and youthful tone fits Annabelle, a sixth-grader growing up sheltered in a small Washington town. Lukoff’s excellent writing and Morris’s lively narration work seamlessly to bring Annabelle and the well-rounded characters to life. When Annabelle starts the school year and meets Bailey, her new nonbinary classmate, her world opens wider and she gains new perspectives. She comes to better understand herself, her family, and her community thanks to Bailey’s friendship. A heartwarming listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ: AudioFile Favorites

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is revisiting favorite audiobooks all this week that make for excellent summer listening. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a striking collection of interconnected short stories by debut author Morgan Talty. Darrell Dennis narrates with calculated restraint, empathy, and a sure sense of the author’s voice. Dennis voices central character David, who is Penobscot, with a convincing tone and careful cadence. The stories teeter from funny to sad, capturing the dark corners of life on the reservation, creating an isolated and insular world for listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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MAN O’ WAR: AudioFile Favorites

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In today’s episode we’re revisiting a favorite audiobook that makes for excellent summer listening. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss MAN O’ WAR, Cory McCarthy’s audiobook narrated perfectly by E.R. Fightmaster. It’s an example of the unique magic that happens when a great narrator is paired with the perfect book. In this young adult novel, River McIntyre spends every spare moment practicing for the swim team as a means to escape their struggle with gender identity—but when they meet and fall in love with another nonbinary teen, they begin to imagine a better future for themself. Fightmaster expertly captures River’s intense internal conflict with their gender and queer identity, voicing the complex emotional depth of River’s experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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HOTEL NANTUCKET: AudioFile Favorites

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is sharing excellent audiobooks for summer listening all this week. On today’s episode, we’re revisiting a conversation between host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten about Elin Hilderbrand’s stellar novel, THE HOTEL NANTUCKET. Erin Bennett gives a great narration of this audiobook set at a Nantucket beach resort. The hotel was destroyed in a 1922 fire, and the new British owner has restored it and is determined to succeed—but a ghost may get in the way. Perfect for listeners looking for an audiobook with a little mystery, a little romance, and quirky characters that feels like a bit of an escape.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE LIGHT WE CARRY: AudioFile Favorites

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0000

We’re sharing our favorite audiobooks for summer listening all this week. On today’s episode, we revisit our conversation between AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed, talking about Michelle Obama’s bestselling memoir. Obama aims to inspire listeners to become their best selves, and she gives practical advice and uses illustrations from her own life. Her deeply personal stories show how she’s worked through obstacles, and listeners also hear about her family’s life post-White House and how they weathered the early days of the pandemic. Her voice is warm and inviting as she shares words of encouragement that will help listeners feel hopeful and ready to face our chaotic world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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In Conversation with Marin Ireland, 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus episode, narrator Marin Ireland joins host Jo Reed to talk about her career as an audiobook narrator and being named a 2023 Golden Voice by AudioFile Magazine. Marin and Jo discuss Marin’s acting career, getting her start in audiobook narration, and her remarkable ability to breathe life into characters through her voice. Marin won an Audie Award for Best Female Narration in 2020 for her work on NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson, and her work has earned her recognition on AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks list for years. She is gifted with the versatility to voice a range of characters and the emotional intelligence and skill to reveal the nuances of any story.

Read reviews of many of Marin Ireland’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Dreamscape Publishing. Join Dreamscape Publishing as they celebrate Audiobook Month with mesmerizing tales, talented narrators, and endless inspiration for audiobook lovers everywhere! Join them online on social media or at their website, dreamscapepublishing.com

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THAT SUMMER FEELING by Bridget Morrissey, read by Jeremy Carlisle Parker

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Carlisle Parker’s vibrant performance brings the warm, crackling joy of this contemporary summer camp romance home to listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of Bridget Morrissey’s romance set at a summer camp for adults. Garland Moore, struggling post-divorce, signs up for a week-long camp with her sister in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Garland’s voice vibrates with nerves and butterflies as she finds her footing among strangers—and finds herself drawn to her cabinmate, Stevie. Parker delightfully teases out their slow-burn chemistry as the women grow closer over obstacle courses, midnight swims, and epic dance parties. The seemingly magical potential for new beginnings at camp radiates throughout this delightful production.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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RED HOOD by Elana K. Arnold, read by January LaVoy

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy’s narration creates a visceral world for Elana K. Arnold’s feminist Little Red Riding Hood retelling. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how the second person point of view can be distancing, but LaVoy’s skilled narration draws listeners right in. Bisou is a 16-year-old who gains incredible powers once she gets her first period—powers that help her face down werewolves. LaVoy’s delivery makes the tension palpable as Bisou fights to save her own life and protect her community and works to understand her grandmother’s dark secrets. January LaVoy shares about narrating this audiobook in her narrator video. Teens can download RED HOOD for free through AudioFile’s SYNC program July 13-19, find out more at audiobooksync.com

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today’s episode is sponsored by Dreamscape Publishing. Dreamscape Publishing is celebrating Audiobook Month with exciting giveaways! Learn more on their social media channels or at their website, dreamscapepublishing.com

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JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron, read by Soneela Nankani

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Soneela Nankani gives a magnificent performance of Farah Heron’s lively and heartwarming second-chance romance. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly and host Jo Reed first discuss their shared love of KAMILA KNOWS BEST, the story where we first meet an ill-fated couple, Jana and Anil. Now it’s five years later, and Jana is a single mother of 4-year-old Imani. She’s been cautious about dating ever since her brief fling with Anil, Imani’s father. Now Anil, Jana, and Imani are all invited to a two-week destination wedding and safari in Tanzania, and suddenly they are spending more time together as a family—and old feelings return. Listeners will vividly imagine Tanzania’s sights, sounds, and especially its tastes, all wonderfully evoked by Nankani. This relatable romance is a listening treat.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today’s episode is sponsored by Dreamscape Publishing. Celebrate Audiobook Month with Dreamscape Publishing and get ready for thrilling giveaways, behind-the-scenes news, and much more! Check it out on their social media channels and at their website, dreamscapepublishing.com

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PAGEBOY by Elliot Page, read by Elliot Page

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Elliot Page gives an emotional, intimate performance of his gorgeous memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the actor’s quiet performance that resonates with moments of joy and heartbreak through his life—detailing his childhood in Nova Scotia, coming out as gay and trans, falling in and out of love, and the toll of being closeted. Hearing his own words in his own voice makes for a powerful listening experience — it’s an intimate performance that hardly feels like a performance at all.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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TRANSLATION STATE by Ann Leckie, read by Adjoa Andoh

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Adjoa Andoh narrates a complex story about identity and belonging set in Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch universe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this new standalone sci-fi mystery with a memorable cast of characters. Qven should have become a Presger translator, but for a terrible incident that sends them careening towards Enae Athur, Reet Hluid, and the Radch Empire. Adjoa expertly narrates the emotional depths of these three characters, each of whom comes from a background where they were not valued or or didn’t feel part of a community. As all three claim their identities and start to heal, Andoh’s performance will resonate in profound ways.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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SO MANY STEVES by Steve Martin, Adam Gopnik, read by Steve Martin, Adam Gopnik

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this short audiobook from Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik. Gopnik asks questions, provides context and insights, and then lets the protean Steve Martin tell his own stories, making the work come across as a kind of memoir. Martin’s conversational tone elevates the personal recollections of his complex life. We get the great comic from his student days to his pursuit of stand-up, acting, writing and more. Through it all are banjo playing and jokes delivered in Martin’s classic style.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries.

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BEETHOVEN IN THE BUNKER by Fred Brouwers, Eileen J. Stevens [Trans.], read by Grover Gardner

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a new audiobook narrated by Golden Voice Grover Gardner. He narrates Fred Brouwers’s audiobook with the seriousness it deserves as he chronicles the lives of musicians, conductors, and composers living under the Nazi regime. Students of German history and classical music will be fascinated by the diverse ways Nazi authorities and notable musicians of the times danced around the conflict between Hitler’s love of serious music and his hatred of the Jewish artists whose works he loved. Gardner performs with genuine engagement, a rich lower-register voice, and a dignified sound.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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HAPPILY by Sabrina Orah Mark, read by Gilli Messer

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Gilli Messer is a mesmerizing narrator for Sabrina Orah Mark’s dazzling collection of autobiographical essays. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Messer captures the poetry of the mythology of the fairy tales in the essays and weaves in the author’s personal history to the tales. Mark’s accounts are animated by great fairy-tale characters such as Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, and many others. Mark details the complex history of her family, and between the essays, she includes conversations with her mother. A rewarding listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE COVENANT OF WATER by Abraham Verghese, read by Abraham Verghese

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Abraham Verghese is both a gifted writer and a dynamic narrator. Verghese’s newest novel is a tour de force that benefits from the author’s fine ear. This multi-generational fiction set in the watery environs of India’s southern coast is a long and completely immersive listen. Once you hear Verghese’s nuanced, emotionally charged and satisfying reading, you’ll be convinced that no one else could have better captured the dialects, tones, and cadences of his many characters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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KING: A LIFE by Jonathan Eig, read by Dion Graham

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham subtly narrates this audiobook, emulating the majestic cadence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, speeches. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this Golden Voice narrator’s captivating performance. Graham captures the Civil Rights leader’s deep, resonant tone; deliberate ministerial intonation; and, during offstage moments, his world-weariness. Author Jonathan Eig renders King as a great but flawed man, making use of recently released tapes and documents and an unpublished memoir from Dr. King’s father to detail his life. A monumental biography performed exquisitely by a Golden Voice.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE GREAT RECLAMATION by Rachel Heng, read by Windson Liong

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a sweeping epic set in Singapore during the political upheaval of the mid twentieth century. When a fisherman is struggling to find enough fish to support his family, his young son, Ah Boon, discovers a mysterious island with hundreds of fish off its shores, ultimately leading to prosperity that draws the attention of political radicals. Windson Liong perfectly captures the many voices of the characters who come in and out of Ah Boon’s life, and Liong imbues his performance with all of Ah Boon’s complex emotions and anxieties.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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QUIETLY HOSTILE by Samantha Irby, read by Samantha Irby

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Samantha Irby narrates her fourth essay collection, bringing her customary sharp observations and comedic timing to her performance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook full of Irby’s tales of Hollywood life, her terrible dog, and the worst times she’s been struck with diarrhea. Irby’s storytelling will have you laughing out loud and is a great example of how some books are just that much more fun on audio.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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UPSTREAM by Mary Oliver, read by Hala Alyan, Joy Sullivan, Kate Baer

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Poets Hala Alyan, Joy Sullivan, and Kate Baer perform this special edition of Mary Oliver’s UPSTREAM, with each narrator performing a different section of the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the joy of listening to each poet narrate Oliver’s collection of essays. Listening helps to make clear Oliver’s intense love for the natural world and the ways that her obsession with nature fills her work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries.

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A DANGEROUSLY HIGH THRESHOLD FOR PAIN by Imani Perry, read by Imani Perry

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners living with an autoimmune disease will feel heard, understood, and defended, perhaps for the first time, as they hear this short work from Imani Perry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook that gets to the core of what it’s like to live with a chronic condition, told in Princeton professor Imani Perry’s own voice and words. It's hard to imagine someone other than the author, who has lupus and Graves disease, narrating such a probing, purposeful exploration of her own life with these illnesses. Perry’s steady voice and carefully measured contemplations bring her intelligence to the audiobook’s forefront.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor, read by Kevin R. Free

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kevin R. Free delivers a dazzling performance of Brandon Taylor’s new novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of contemporary artists living in Iowa City. Poets, writers, and musicians sit around at parties, in bars, and cafés, discussing what it means to be an artist. Their social lives are deliciously messy as they fall in and out of love. Free’s narration moves between the viewpoints of the main characters with ease, creating a distinct voice for each one, and his performance is completely engrossing. Excellent listening from a new Golden Voice narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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In Conversation with Nicholas Boulton, 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:30:00 -0000

Narrator Nicholas Boulton joins host Jo Reed to talk about being named a 2023 Golden Voice. Nicholas is an accomplished actor on stage and screen and in audio, with more than 100 audiobooks to his name. He’s celebrated for the pure quality of his voice, his facility for character, and an unerring instinct for storytelling. Jo Reed spoke with Nicholas in 2021 at the launch of our Audiobook Break podcast, which featured his narration of DAVID COPPERFIELD. In today’s bonus episode, Jo and Nicholas catch up on some of his recent audiobook projects and discuss becoming a Golden Voice.

Listen to Jo and Nicholas’s earlier conversation on our Behind the Mic podcast.

Read reviews of many of Nicholas Boulton’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

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A RAKE OF HIS OWN by A.J. Lancaster, read by Nicholas Boulton

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Nicholas Boulton’s narration of A.J. Lancaster’s audiobook—part fantasy, part murder, part romance—is all pleasure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the fun of listening to this audiobook from a 2023 Golden Voice narrator, Nicholas Boulton. When botanical scholar Marius encounters a murdered colleague in his greenhouse, the enthralling fae, Prince Rakken, is there to investigate. Amid more dead colleagues and adventures in various realms, Marius and Rakken begin a romance. Boulton’s crisp, drawling voice meets the challenges of this fantastical romp.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Podium Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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DIVA 2.0 by Sheryl Lee Ralph, read by Sheryl Lee Ralph

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Actor and singer Sheryl Lee Ralph narrates her memoir and self-help guide with drama and feeling. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook, which is full of delicious anecdotes about Sheryl Lee Ralph’s life in the theater and music business, along with personal reflections on how to succeed and maintain one’s integrity. Ralph’s narration brings her full-throttle vocal range to the ups and downs of her career, and the grace and dignity that come from within. An inspiring listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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IT. GOES. SO. FAST. by Mary Louise Kelly, read by Mary Louise Kelly

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Mary Louise Kelly, anchor of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” delivers a captivating narration of her audiobook about the challenging life of a working parent. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how this audiobook is best heard in Mary Louise’s own voice, with her journalistic yet emotional delivery. Her warm, empathetic voice; personable delivery; and experienced pacing engage listeners with her examination of life on the front lines of news and parenting.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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YELLOWFACE by R.F. Kuang, read by Helen Laser

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Helen Laser gives a mesmerizing performance in this poignant novel and biting satire. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Helen’s skill at enlivening June Hayward, a struggling white author who steals her Asian friend Athena’s manuscript when she dies. Laser captures June’s rise to fame on the success of this novel and her subsequent descent into guilt and delusions amid accusations of theft and cultural appropriation. This is a riveting production of a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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PINEAPPLE STREET by Jenny Jackson, read by Marin Ireland

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Marin Ireland excels at depicting the insular, privileged world of the Stockton family in this debut audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this tale of a Brooklyn Heights family that made their money in real estate, and how Marin’s narration makes listeners feel for each of these characters. She gracefully takes listeners into an exclusive milieu of private schools, galas, and grand townhouses while beautifully conveying the frailties and emotional confusion that renders this family relatable. A compelling family saga.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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Nicholas Boulton — 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is celebrating the 2023 Golden Voice Narrators, our stars of the audiobook universe who have superb performance skills and are keenly attuned to each author whose work they narrate. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are honoring Nicholas Boulton, a new Golden Voice narrator who has narrated more than 100 audiobooks, ranging from 19th-century classics to science fiction, history, and romance. Robin shares a sample from his narration of THE DEAD SECRET by Wilkie Collins, which shows off his fluid performance style. He gives swoon-worthy narrations in romances, from the contemporary GLITTERLAND to medieval tales like DESIRE LINES. Tune in to our podcast next week for our conversation with Nicholas Boulton about his Golden Voice honor and his work in audiobooks.

Essential listening from Nicholas Boulton:

DAVID COPPERFIELD by Charles Dickens

DEAD SOULS by Nikolai Gogol

GLITTERLAND by Alexis Hall

JUSTINE by Lawrence Durrell

THE DEAD SECRET by Wilkie Collins

Discover more about all of our Golden Voice narrators and their latest audiobooks on our website.

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Marin Ireland — 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are honoring AudioFile’s 2023 Golden Voice narrators — the stars of the audiobook universe. These narrators have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. Today Jo and Robin are celebrating Marin Ireland, a skilled narrator who loves to disappear into the stories she narrates, moving seamlessly among the characters and making each distinct for listeners. She won the 2020 Best Female Narrator Audie Award for NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson, a surprising listen with interesting challenges for the narrator. Marin has an intuitive gift with her character voices, and those are on display in all of our Essential Listens. Stay tuned for our conversation with Marin here on Behind the Mic later this month.

Essential listening from Marin Ireland:

BEARTOWN by Fredrik Backman

LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam

NOTHING TO SEE HERE by Kevin Wilson

SLEEPING BEAUTIES by Stephen King, Owen King

THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub

Discover more about all of our Golden Voice narrators and their latest audiobooks on our website.

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Kevin R. Free — 2023 Golden Voice Narrator

Wed, 31 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the audiobook universe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are announcing the 2023 Golden Voice narrators, an accolade that honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form and celebrates the iconic skills they bring to their performances. Today Jo and Robin are celebrating Kevin R. Free, who has narrated more than 450 audiobooks since 2001, as well as being an actor, playwright, and an artistic director at regional theaters across the country. He narrates with an infectious energy, and his performances have earned him numerous Earphones Awards and Best Audiobook honors. Robin discusses a sample of his narration of DIZZY by Jonah Winter, which shows off Kevin’s brilliant sense of musicality and rhythm, and highlights his many other audiobooks, including Martha Wells’s beloved Murderbot Diaries series. Stay tuned for a conversation with Kevin here on Behind the Mic in July.

Essential listening from Kevin R. Free:

Martha Wells’s Murderbot Diaries series

RHYME’S ROOMS by Brad Leithauser

SO THIS IS EVER AFTER by F.T. Lukens

THE LAST SLAVE SHIP by Ben Raines

THE LATE AMERICANS by Brandon Taylor

Discover more about all of our Golden Voice narrators and their latest audiobooks on our website.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE WISDOM OF MORRIE by Morrie Schwartz, Rob Schwartz [Ed.], read by Steven Weber, Rob Schwartz [Fore.]

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The late Morrie Schwartz was the subject of the popular book and movie TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Steven Weber’s narration of Schwartz’s posthumously edited guide to aging. Weber sounds seamlessly connected to the author’s timeless wisdom and altruistic spirit. With moving personal stories and observations, Morrie invites listeners to age proactively, to live creatively, and to seize every day and opportunity to fill our later years with joy and loving connections.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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ALL THE SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby, read by Adam Lazarre-White

Mon, 29 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adam Lazarre-White draws listeners into the new thought-provoking crime novel from S.A. Cosby. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story of Titus Crowne, the first Black sheriff in a small Virginia county. As listeners enter Titus’s world, he is faced with a shooter at a high school, a neo-Confederate group on the march, and a serial killer terrifying the town. This is a gripping, timely tale—beautifully told. Stay tuned for an interview with S.A. Cosby coming June 6, in AudioFile’s articles.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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WITCH KING by Martha Wells, read by Eric Mok

Fri, 26 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Eric Mok makes Martha Wells’s wonderfully inventive and diverse fantasy eminently accessible. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of exploring a fantasy world written by Wells, well known for her MURDERBOT series. Here, Kaiisteron, a demon prince of the underearth with the power to possess other bodies, wakes up imprisoned and confused. When he and his dear friend, the witch Ziede, escape, they set off to find answers—and Ziede’s missing wife. The story jumps between the present timeline and earlier, during a devastating war, and we slowly learn more about Kai’s history. Mok keeps up with the fast-paced action sequences and voices many lovable (and some horrible) characters with skill. Listeners will hope for more stories set in this fascinating world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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ANDER & SANTI WERE HERE by Jonny Garza Villa, read by Avi Roque

Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Avi Roque gives a spirited and deeply emotional performance of Jonny Garza Villa’s queer love story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this rich and lively audiobook for teens. Nonbinary Mexican American teen Ander is taking a gap year before college, focusing on their art and painting murals across San Antonio. When they fall in love with their family taqueria’s newest employee, an undocumented Mexican boy named Santi, it opens up their world in unexpected ways. Roque’s warm and musical narration is utter perfection, capturing Ander and Santi’s fear with vivid immediacy and infusing their voice with bubbly happiness at the thrill of building this new relationship. A hopeful listen that’s a heartbreaking, joyful love letter to queer Latinx communities.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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POVERTY, BY AMERICA by Matthew Desmond, read by Dion Graham

Wed, 24 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham is a master of nonfiction narration, and he perfectly complements the flow of Matthew Desmond’s treatise on poverty in America, and how to end it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this devastatingly clear and expertly narrated audiobook. Desmond is a professor of Sociology at Princeton and well known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning EVICTED. Here he describes the depth of American poverty, the history and devastating impacts, but he also urges listeners to become poverty abolitionists and end this national disgrace. Graham performs with energy and intensity, matching Desmond’s outrage, and conveys each statistic, quotation, and insight flawlessly.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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Interview with author Kwame Alexander

Tue, 23 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Poet and author Kwame Alexander joins Behind the Mic host Jo Reed to talk about his new memoir for an adult audience, WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT. Alexander is the author of many award-winning audiobooks for young listeners, including THE DOOR OF NO RETURN, AN AMERICAN STORY, and LIGHT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. He’s a familiar voice on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” and a Disney+ series based on his book THE CROSSOVER has just been released. In their interview, Alexander shares his thoughts about his parents’ influence, how he came to poetry and to writing books for children and young adults, and his experience narrating this very personal memoir.

Read our review of WHY FATHERS CRY AT NIGHT on our website, along with reviews of more of Kwame Alexander’s many audiobooks for young listeners.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES: THE MANIFESTOR PROPHECY by Angie Thomas, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Tue, 23 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Magic flows as Joniece Abbott-Pratt brings to life Angie Thomas’s thrilling first fantasy novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Thomas’s new middle-grade series perfect for family road trips and young fantasy readers. Nic Blake has just turned twelve, and while she gets a pretty amazing gift (her own hellhound puppy!), her dad refuses to start teaching her to use her magical abilities. Nic and her father are Manifestors, able to use magic, though they live outside the Remarkable community and are always on the move. When Nic discovers shocking secrets he’s kept from her—and he’s arrested for a crime he didn’t commit—it’s up to her to find the truth. Abbott-Pratt captures listeners’ attention with her dramatic narration, voicing each character with heart and emotion and leaving listeners eager for the next story in the series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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HAPPY PLACE by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

Mon, 22 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Julia Whelan’s nuanced performance complements Emily Henry’s newest heartfelt romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this delicious summer romance that is full of all that listeners have come to love in Henry’s audiobooks. Every year Harriet and her friends vacation together at a cottage in Maine. Now the couples are moving onto big life decisions—but not Harriet and Wyn. They broke up months ago but can’t bear to tell the others and disrupt their tight-knit friendship, so they pretend they are still together for this last trip. Whelan’s narration makes for captivating listening in this romance that is also about growing up and chasing new dreams.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE GUEST LECTURE by Martin Riker, read by Vanessa Johansson

Fri, 19 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Vanessa Johansson’s thoughtful delivery makes Martin Riker’s novel come alive. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this clever novel with a feminist economist named Abigail at its center. Having been turned down for tenure, Abigail spends a sleepless night prepping for a speech and examining her life and career and analyzing what went wrong. She’s joined by an imaginary John Maynard Keynes, on whose work she is about to lecture. This brief audiobook is captivating as it portrays a soul in conflict, while also satirizing academia.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE LAKESIDE SUPPER CLUB by J. Ryan Stradal, read by Aspen Vincent

Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss J. Ryan Stradal’s audiobook and Aspen Vincent’s convincing narration of the all-Minnesota cast. Vincent has a crystalline tone, evocative style, and satisfying storytelling voice. The four generations of women who shape the plot are each given a unique sound, and all are portrayed in the honey-glow of this mostly historical novel. The plot follows the dual course of two restaurant families: one founds a chain, Jorby’s; the other runs the Lakeside Supper Club in northern Minnesota country.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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STEALING by Margaret Verble, read by DeLanna Studi

Wed, 17 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator DeLanna Studi accomplishes an impressive feat in narrating Margaret Verble’s historical novel, set in the 1950s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this feat of narration told from the point of view of a nine year old girl. Studi’s depiction of Kit Crockett resonates as she captures the tone and often breathless cadence of the bright child. Kit’s Cherokee mother dies, and when her white father is sent to jail, Kit is sent first to soulless clergy and then to a horrific boarding school. Studi portrays the wise Kit as a person who skillfully navigates the natural world and knows how to fend for herself.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ARSÈNE LUPIN, GENTLEMAN-BURGLAR by Maurice Leblanc, read by Mark Meadows

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the latest mysterious audiobook available on our Audiobook Break podcast. Mark Meadows captures the lighthearted sarcasm, subtle humor, and brilliance of the thief Arsène Lupin. In this collection of nine engrossing short stories by Maurice Leblanc, listeners meet the gentlemanly burglar whose powers of deduction rival those of Sherlock Holmes—and in fact he solves a mystery before Holmes even gets the chance in “Sherlock Holmes Arrives too Late.” Excellent listening for fans of the new LUPIN streaming series, or anyone who loves a good mystery.

You can listen to all of THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ARSÈNE LUPIN, GENTLEMAN-BURGLAR for free on our Audiobook Break podcast.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE NEW EARTH by Jess Row, read by a Full Cast

Mon, 15 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this sprawling contemporary novel by Jess Row and how the cast narrates it brilliantly. Jim Meskimen takes the pivotal role of the narrator in this dazzling audiobook with a thoughtful tone. Robin Miles captures the angsty brilliance of matriarch Naomi, while Jason Culp portrays her estranged husband with eloquent restraint. The children in this Manhattan-based shattered family are voiced evocatively. Each narrator gives these heady, flawed, yet compelling characters individuality and grace. A fascinating portrait of a family in distress.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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WANDERING SOULS by Cecile Pin, read by Aoife Hinds, Ioanna Kimbook, Ainsleigh Barber

Fri, 12 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this historical novel set at the end of the Vietnam War. Aoife Hinds, Ioanna Kimbook, and Ainsleigh Barber perform this stunning debut that follows three orphaned Vietnamese refugees. Siblings Anh, Thanh, and Minh flee Vietnam at the end of the war, hoping to meet their parents at a refugee camp in Hong Kong. But after the rest of their family is found dead, they are sent to the UK to start a new life. Hinds performs the main portions of the audiobook beautifully, imbuing her performance with all of the characters’ intense sorrow and hope for the future, while Kimbook and Barber narrate intervals and short chapters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE WONDERLAND COLLECTION by Lewis Carroll, read by Simon Bubb

Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Simon Bubb’s whimsical narration sets the stage for Lewis Carroll’s classic tales of Wonderland. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the fun of listening to this collection, part of this summer’s Audiobook SYNC program and available free to teen listeners in July. In addition to the more familiar ALICE IN WONDERLAND and ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, the collection includes short stories centered on mathematical problems. Bubb lends a range of vocal characterizations to the many eccentric characters, and he deftly captures the absurd humor in Carroll’s style. Learn more about SYNC at audiobooksync.com

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Thomas Nelson.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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BITING THE HAND by Julia Lee, read by Julia Lee

Wed, 10 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Lee performs her new essay collection that explores the complex lived reality of being the child of working class Korean immigrants in California. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Lee’s emotional performance of the audiobook. During the 1992 riots in her hometown of Los Angeles, Lee had a front-row seat to the horrors of white supremacy. As she attends college and moves on to grad school, she has her own racial reckoning as she examines her complicity in America’s racial hierarchy. Lee communicates all of her anger and frustrations at the racism she experiences and sees around her.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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LILIANA'S INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Cristina Rivera Garza, read by Victoria Villarreal

Tue, 09 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Victoria Villarreal becomes the voice of a loving, tormented family member, Cristina Rivera Garza, who is seeking information about the murder of her sister Liliana. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook that bears witness to Liliana’s life. Villarreal uses a soft yet determined voice to characterize Cristina on her journey to find justice for her sister, and she captures the beautiful memories that Rivera Garza shares. This memoir is a beautiful example of a true crime audiobook that doesn’t seek to make a spectacle out of tragedy but rather honors Liliana’s life, seeks justice for her murder, and ties her story into the larger issue of violence against women.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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SCORCHED GRACE by Margot Douaihy, read by Mara Wilson

Mon, 08 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In this new series, Mara Wilson narrates as the audacious heroine Sister Holiday, a queer, tattoo-covered nun brimming with a talent for solving mysteries. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss Wilson’s incredible performance as this nun with a chip on her shoulder. She creates Sister as a chain-smoking paradox, and listeners will be delighted with the depth of her emotional range as she delivers Sister’s dialogue. It’s a hard-boiled, sexy, and sometimes very funny whodunit.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Zando.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit www.audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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YOU COULD MAKE THIS PLACE BEAUTIFUL by Maggie Smith, read by Maggie Smith

Fri, 05 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

American poet Maggie Smith beautifully narrates her memoir about the end of her marriage and rediscovering herself as she picks up the pieces. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the intimacy of listening to Smith narrate her own memoir, which is structured as a series of short narratives walking listeners through her life transition. Starting with her heartbreak, the memoir explores not only a very specific kind of pain, but also the roles that women embrace and grow into.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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BEYOND MAGENTA: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin, read by Tanya Eby, Nick Podehl, Todd Haberkorn, Roxanne Hernandez, Janina Edwards, Nancy Wu, Marisol Ramirez

Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

An ensemble of voices delivers this candid collection of interviews with gender-nonconforming teens who struggle to be accepted. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this collection available this summer for free through AudioFile’s SYNC program in June. Tanya Eby voices author Susan Kuklin, narrating in a neutral yet respectful tone that allows the more emotional stories conveyed by the other narrators to stand out. Performed conversationally, each teen’s narrative is imbued with authenticity that recounts honest, sometimes brutal circumstances sincerely. These powerful, revelatory stories speak volumes.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio/Candlewick.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERERS by Jesse Q. Sutanto, read by Eunice Wong

Wed, 03 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Eunice Wong’s brisk performance perfectly suits Jesse Q. Sutano’s humorous yet poignant cozy mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this quirky mystery and its unforgettable protagonist, the 60-year-old Chinese immigrant, Vera Wong. Vera’s lonely existence takes a wild turn when she discovers a dead body in her rundown San Francisco tea shop and decides to investigate. Vera is a woman of strong opinions and decisive actions, and Wong’s crisp, accented portrayal reveals all of Vera’s amusing, endearing, and exasperating traits.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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THE PEOPLE'S HOSPITAL by Ricardo Nuila, read by Ricardo Nuila

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Physician Ricardo Nuila brings the full extent of his passion for people to his narration of his experiences with American healthcare. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this fascinating deep dive into the safety net system in Houston, Texas, focused on the public hospital Ben Taub. On staff at that hospital, Nuila saw firsthand the destructive aspects of for-profit healthcare and how often those who were truly suffering would end up in his public hospital when it was almost too late. Nulia embraces his emotions as he tells personal stories of real-life cases. What results is a powerful audiobook about what is happening to those who cannot access healthcare.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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CODE GRAY by Farzon A. Nahvi, read by Aden Hakimi, Farzon A. Nahvi

Mon, 01 May 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Dr. Nahvi processes many experiences as an emergency room doctor, and Aden Hakimi effectively channels the author’s reflectiveness and compassion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how the author leads off the audiobook with a glimpse inside the chaos and bravery of a Manhattan ER at the start of COVID. Hakimi’s presence is assured and calm as he delivers terrible stories with careful attention and kindness. Dr. Nahvi also walks us through his pre-COVID career, giving fascinating takes on the healthcare system from a doctor’s perspective, and the many challenges healthcare workers face.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast comes from audiobooks.com. Visit audiobooks.com/freeoffer for three free audiobooks with a trial.

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CATCHING THE LIGHT by Joy Harjo, read by Joy Harjo

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss two recent audiobooks written and read by former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation). Harjo shares short vignettes about her life and her inspiration for her poetry in CATCHING THE LIGHT, and her wide-ranging topics include language, Native American history, music, and human nature, with her soft and strong voice. She meditates on why she writes poetry, and the inspiration her studies in music and art bring to her work. Her recent children’s audiobook, REMEMBER, includes one poem as well as a beautiful author’s note on the need for a poetry room in our lives, where we keep poems we love. In both audiobooks, listeners will discover greater appreciation for the power of words, music, dance, and Harjo’s generous spirit and worldview.

Read the full reviews of CATCHING THE LIGHT and REMEMBER on AudioFile’s Website. Published by Audible, Inc and Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Brilliance Audio’s I Will Find You. Five years ago, David went to prison for murdering his son. But when a mysterious photo reveals that the boy might still be alive, he plans a harrowing escape to achieve the impossible. Can David save his son, prove his innocence, and finally uncover the dark truth about that devastating night? Listen to the new audiobook thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben and read by Steven Weber. Learn more at Audible.com/IWillFindYou

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YOU CAN'T SAY THAT! by Leonard S. Marcus [Ed.], read by Tom Parks, Roxanne Hernandez, Arthur Morey, Janet Metzger, Thom Rivera, Susan Dalian

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Today, the 14th season of AudioFile’s SYNC launches, and Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about this year’s excellent season of free audiobooks for teens, including YOU CAN’T SAY THAT! It’s a collection of interviews with authors of YA books about censorship and free expression, and it could not be more timely. Listen to hear professional narrators bring interviews with authors to life, including Angie Thomas, Katherine Paterson, and David Levithan.

Sign up for this year’s SYNC program and learn more about how to download 28 free audiobooks for teens on our website: audiobooksync.com

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio/Candlewick.

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THE WHITE LADY by Jacqueline Winspear, read by Orlagh Cassidy

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

With her keen talent for British accents, narrator Orlagh Cassidy masterfully delivers this stand-alone historical mystery from Jacqueline Winspear. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Winspear’s new heroine, Elinor White. The story moves around in time from White’s life in Britain in 1947, to her recruitment in the Belgian Resistance as a teen during WWI, and her work as an SOE agent during WWII. Cassidy guides listeners through the emotional, physical, and long-term impacts of two wars and illuminates the unrecognized role of women. An engrossing experience of Winspear’s beautifully written work.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty, read by Mela Lee

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

From the opening lines, narrator Mela Lee draws listeners into this thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss an audiobook with an action-packed plot. Tom, the recently remarried widower; Heather, the younger new wife; and Tom’s children travel to Australia for a medical conference. Then the family adventure turns into a terrifying situation on a remote island. As the bad goes worse, Lee’s narration never lets the suspense subside in this edge-of-your-seat thriller and 2023 Audies Finalist.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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SAVING TIME by Jenny Odell, read by Kristen Sieh

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Kristen Sieh narrates Jenny Odell’s audiobook that is a dazzling meditation on the possibilities and abuses of time. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Sieh gives a lovely, engaging performance of this wide-ranging compilation. Sieh narrates with emotional breadth and cultural awareness in this book with its sprawling range of perspectives, historical references, and moving personal vignettes. Odell shows how keeping track of time is a modern invention, and obsessing about measured external time keeps us from connecting more fully with our deeper selves and the beauty around us.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE TRYOUT by Christina Soontornvat, read by Grace Li, Vaneh Assadourian, Marcha Kiatrungrit, Ashley Austin Morris, Brian Sounalath, and a full cast

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the fun of listening to Christina Soontornvat’s middle-grade graphic memoir translated into audio. Grace Li leads the narration as young Christina, a seventh grader navigating a particularly intense cheerleading tryout—plus a lot of middle-school drama. Christina was the only Thai American kid in her small town Texas school, and she faced microaggressions and outright racism. Sounds of ringing school bells and squeaking sneakers join the full cast to dramatize the story, full of joyful giggles, frustration, and determination. The audiobook’s gracefully expanded narration ensures an immersive standalone listening experience. Gimme a W . . . for WINNER!

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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LOVELESS by Alice Oseman, read by Billie Fulford-Brown, Elizabeth Schenk, Imogen Church

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Billie Fulford-Brown narrates this contemporary British novel from Alice Oseman, author of the HEARTSTOPPER series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this emotional audiobook about a memorable first year at University. Eighteen-year-old Georgia has never kissed anyone, had a crush, dated, or fallen in love—and really hasn’t ever wanted any of those things. As she begins her first year at Durham University, she can’t give up her idea of a “normal” university experience. It’s only after many missteps that she claims her identity as asexual and aromantic and recognizes the deep value of her friendships. Fulford-Brown’s soft-spoken, sensitive narration makes Georgia’s many emotions ring true. Elizabeth Schenk and Imogen Church narrate a bonus short story about two fiery characters falling for each other.

Listeners can download LOVELESS during AudioFile’s SYNC free summer audiobook program for teens. Visit audiobookSYNC.com for more information — and mark your calendar for June 22nd to download LOVELESS!

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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HEARTS UNBROKEN by Cynthia Leitich Smith, read by Kyla Garcia

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how Kyla Garcia brings this award-winning 2018 novel by Cynthia Leitich Smith to life for listeners. Louise Wolfe is a smart and curious high school senior in Kansas, and a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation. Garcia’s bright narration suits the character as she finds her voice in the school paper, navigates crushes, and thinks about the future. Lou and her family face discrimination and harassment over her younger brother’s lead role in the school play, and she notes each time a Native stereotype appears, debating how it would be received if she spoke out. Louise is a character listeners will love to spend time with, and Garcia makes this a highly recommended and engaging listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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BLOOD DEBTS by Terry J. Benton-Walker, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Zeno Robinson, Bahni Turpin, Torian Brackett

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt and Zeno Robinson beautifully capture the voices of Cristina and Clement Trudeau, Black teenage twins growing up in a magical New Orleans family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this action-packed YA fantasy from Terry J. Benton-Walker. A year after their father’s death, the twins fear their mother is soon to follow. Then they discover she isn’t just ill, but cursed, and they are all targets—so they set out to find the truth. Robinson and Abbott-Pratt pull out all the emotions in a tale full of closely held secrets, danger, romance, and incredible magic. Bahni Turpin and Torian Brackett narrate as additional characters, including ambitious antagonists and a terrifying god, giving listeners more insight into the complex tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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A LIVING REMEDY by Nicole Chung, read by Jennifer Kim

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Jennifer Kim movingly narrates a raw and relatable memoir about grief and loss from Nicole Chung, author of ALL YOU CAN EVER KNOW. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Chung’s story of moving away from her parents and starting her own family, and the heartbreaking loss of both of her parents. Kim’s somber narration sensitively navigates the immense guilt and grief that Chung experiences having been far from her parents when they parents died and unable to help. Kim sharply captures Chung’s pointed criticisms of the U.S. healthcare system that failed her family because of their economic status.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE WAGER by David Grann, read by Dion Graham

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

David Grann’s enthralling audiobook is performed by a masterful narrator, Dion Graham. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an audiobook that details the true story of HMS WAGER, an English warship that sailed in the 1740s. Graham delivers the nautical adventures at a strong pace with a mesmerizing cadence and impeccable timing. The excitement and peril of the high seas are captured through Grann’s dramatic accounts of mutiny, shipwreck, and remarkable perseverance. A compelling and entertaining listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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PALO ALTO by Malcolm Harris, read by Patrick Harrison

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Patrick Harrison combines a fine storytelling style with a sure sense of the dramatic and a good tempo as he narrates Malcom Harris’s monumental work. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this activist’s look at his hometown and the powerful institutions that reside there, revealing the dark side of Silicon Valley. The thesis is that technological innovators and their political allies became unfathomably wealthy as they despoiled the planet, exploited workers, and were ruthless in the accumulation of money and power. Harrison’s resonant voice fits this prodigiously researched audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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WOLFISH by Erica Berry, read by Lessa Lamb

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Lessa Lamb narrates Erica Berry’s audiobook about wolves with a fine tone and timbre. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how she inhabits the youthful sound and elegant style of this layered audiobook. Lamb’s timing and sense of occasion add richness to its informed foray into all things wolf as she captures the drama, fear, and anxiety that underlie the immersive presentation. The text weaves together the author’s own fraught coming-of-age story, recounts the accidental reintroduction of wolves in Oregon, and retells the foundational myths and lore of wolves around the world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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ROMAINE WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY by Judith Tschann, read by Alejandra Reynoso

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff talk about a fun history of food lore and language from Judith Tschann, and Alejandra Reynoso’s gifted narration. This witty treasury of food lore will enlighten listeners curious about the origin of the fine French wine Chateau Neuf de Pape or how the orange, the fruit, gave its name to the color. Reynoso establishes just the right tone and cadence for a global journey centered on foodways.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE CLIMATE BOOK by Greta Thunberg, read by Amelia Stubberfield, Greta Thunberg, Nicholas Khan, Olivia Forrest

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish climate activist, has a voice that rings with passion, palpable emotion, and earnest commitment. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her audiobook of essays, where she’s joined by a talented trio of English narrators bringing skill and understanding to the text. Climate experts and other scientists sound the alarm about the shocking state of our warming planet. This anthology of experts, artists, and, especially, the young woman influencing a generation is a clarion call.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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HOUSE OF COTTON by Monica Brashears, read by Jeanette Illidge

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Jeanette Illidge’s impressive vocal versatility perfectly suits Monica Brashears’s debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this gothic novel featuring Southern and Appalachian folklore. Magnolia’s grandmother dies, leaving her alone at 19 with a predatory landlord and a job that pays poorly. When a white man offers her a strange but lucrative modeling job, she accepts and moves to his plantation-style house and funeral parlor. There as Magnolia impersonates the dead, Illidge’s numerous portrayals are realistically delivered. She immerses listeners in Magnolia’s horror as things gradually fall apart, and captures just the right amount of suspense for this creepy, almost supernatural listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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HIJAB BUTCH BLUES by Lamya H, read by Ashraf Shirazi

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Ashraf Shirazi reads Lamya H’s extraordinary debut memoir with the perfect mix of tenderness and ferocity. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Lamya H’s memoir, where they use stories and verses from the Quran to reflect on their life as a queer Muslim immigrant. Shirazi’s narration is searching, conversational, and often humming with emotion. Her voice flows naturally, drawing listeners into Lamya H’s lush prose and probing questions. This powerful, vulnerable, and beautifully written and performed audiobook is a game changer for queer Muslim literature and an absolute must-listen for 2023.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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IN THE UPPER COUNTRY by Kai Thomas, read by Milton Barnes, Tymika Tafari, Wesley French

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Milton Barnes, Tymika Tafari, and Wesley French perform this historical novel set in Canada in the 1800s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this story within a story, where listeners receive a new piece of the puzzle with each chapter. Lensinda, a free Black woman working as a researcher for a Black journalist, interviews an older woman arrested for shooting a slave catcher who was trying to take her back to America. But when she begins the interview, Lensinda discovers there is more to the woman than meets the eye. Tafari’s performance of Lensinda is vibrant, while Barnes and French rotate through additional perspectives, helping listeners follow the large cast of characters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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LIFE ON DELAY by John Hendrickson, read by George Newbern

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

George Newbern performs this memoir by a journalist who became famous after he wrote about President Biden’s stutter and how he overcame it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss John Hendrickson’s memoir that explores both the author’s own experiences with a stutter and the experiences of others. Newbern’s performance capures Hendrickson’s deep anguish from internalized ableism and an educational system that wasn’t equipped to help students with disabilities. With his ability to create emotional intimacy between the text and the listener, Newbern shows off his incredible range and skill as a narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE BOOK OF EVERLASTING THINGS by Aanchal Malhotra, read by Deepti Gupta

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Deepti Gupta performs Aanchal Malhotra’s lush historical novel set against the backdrop of the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss Deepti’s skill at giving voice to the dozens of characters in this multigenerational family saga. A Hindu teen named Samir, who is working in his family’s perfume shop in 1930s Lahore, falls in love with Firdaus, the daughter of a Muslim calligrapher. As tensions between Muslims and Hindus increase leading up to Partition, Samir and Firdaus believe their love can withstand anything. Gupta captures the deep emotional connection between the two young people, making listeners feel hope that they will find a way to stay together. Gupta’s performance complements this sweeping story, dazzling with every new chapter and plot twist.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER by Rupert Holmes, read by Neil Patrick Harris, Simon Vance

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Simon Vance and Neil Patrick Harris combine their narrative talents to present an unusual mystery set in a 1950s school instructing students how to “morally” murder—and get away with it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Rupert Holmes’s fun and over-the-top mystery audiobook. Listeners meet three students at this unusual school. In addition to learning methods to inventively delete (murder) deserving victims, cleverly rendered quotes from the school’s handbook offer further diabolical fun. The action and spirited renderings amp up as each student must successfully delete their intended victim—or be eliminated by the school.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE LEVEE by William Kent Krueger, read by JD Jackson, William Kent Krueger [Note]

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator JD Jackson acts out William Kent Krueger’s dramatic audio-original novella. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this AudioFile Earphones Award-winner set in Mississippi in 1927. Listeners learn of a potential breach of a levee, the only thing holding back torrents of water during unprecedented flooding of the lower Mississippi River. Four men arrive by boat and work tirelessly to save the levee and rescue stubborn stranded residents. Jackson’s deep, gravelly voice pervades the performance. The raging river’s inexorable attacks are reflected in Jackson’s cadence as he adds emotional energy to the exhausting fight between men and the mighty Mississippi.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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2023 Audie Awards Recap

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Hear all about the 2023 Audie Awards from AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed! Listen in as they highlight the winners of Audiobook of the Year, Best Male and Best Female narrators, and more. You can visit www.theaudies.com for a full list of the Audie Award winners and finalists — and if you want to catch up with the full livestream of the event, visit the APA website. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists of this year’s Audie Awards!

See the full list of Audie Award winners and finalists at www.theaudies.com

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST by Michelle Buteau, read by Michelle Buteau

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Fans of comic, commentator, and actor Michelle Buteau will laugh out loud through her frank essays. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Buteau’s lively narration—and her upcoming role as host of the 2023 Audie Awards. Michele and Jo discuss Buteau’s essay collection that highlights key moments in her life, written and narrated in her fun and brash style. A stellar example of an entertainer turned writer using her talents as a narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY by Monica Heisey, read by Julia Whelan

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan is the perfect narrator for Monica Heisey’s emotional novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how her performance enhances the engaging journey of Maggie, a nearly 30-year-old graduate student whose life isn’t going as planned. At first, Maggie thinks the amicable ending of her short marriage as a modern uncoupling, but eventually she realizes she’s fallen into unhealthy habits—far after her friends and colleagues do. Whelan’s narration will have listeners rooting for Maggie to find herself even during her darkest moments.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE WICKED BARGAIN by Gabe Cole Novoa, read by Vico Ortiz

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Vico Ortiz narrates an action-packed fantastical pirate adventure with gusto. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the excitement of listening to Gabe Cole Novoa’s thrilling YA audiobook. Sixteen-year-old Mar has to hide twice over—they wear a chest binder, and they have strong magical control over fire and ice that demands to be used. Slipping seamlessly between English and Spanish, Ortiz puts listeners firmly in Mar’s point of view with their appealingly husky voice and dramatic pacing. Listeners will be swept up in the action with shipwrecks, deals with the devil, and dramatic battles both magical and piratical.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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BABEL by R.F. Kuang, read by Chris Lew Kum Hoi, Billie Fulford-Brown

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Chris Lew Kum Hoi brings an incredible range of languages and voices to life for listeners in this sharp fantasy from R.F. Kuang. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the skilled narration of this breathtaking alternate history. Orphaned and taken from China to be raised in England, Robin Swift trains for years to join the Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford, housed in its Babel tower. As he learns to wield the power that exists when language is translated, he discovers the violences that colonialism perpetrates—and aids in a rebellion. Billie Fulford-Brown narrates numerous footnotes playing up the author’s dry wit, while Bianca Chen voices key sections in Mandarin. It’s a story full of secrets, fierce friendships, betrayal, murder, and revolution.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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SOMETHING WILD & WONDERFUL by Anita Kelly, read by Mark Sanderlin

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Mark Sanderlin narrates this charming romance set on the Pacific Crest Trail with the perfect mix of emotion and humor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this hiking romance full of beautiful vistas, surprise rattlesnakes, and trail magic. Alexi and Ben set out to hike the PCT for very different reasons, but when they meet each other on the trail and decide to be hiking partners, they discover a sweet connection. Sanderlin’s narration sounds natural, and he smoothly captures Ben’s distinct laugh, Alexi’s nerdy monologues about birds, and their growth as they connect on the trail and off. A vivid and transporting listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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LOVE AT FIRST PSYCH by Cara Bastone, read by Santino Fontana, Stephanie Einstein, and a Full Cast

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Santino Fontana and Stephanie Einstein lead a full-cast performance of Cara Bastone’s newest audio-first romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and joy of listening to one of Bastone’s romances. Robbie and Marigold are two older college students working on a group project for their psychology class exploring whether love at first sight exists. Listeners hear their lively interviews in a diner, at the zoo, even at the mall, and a full soundscape sets the scene. Fontana gleefully expresses Robbie’s flights of fancy as Einstein uses mock disapproval to illuminate Marigold’s eventual warming toward her project partner. A fun and engaging romance. Read our interview with author Cara Bastone for more on how she writes her audio-first romances.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE NEIGHBOR FAVOR by Kristina Forest, read by Keylor Leigh, Malik Rashad

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Keylor Leigh and Malik Rashad work together beautifully to deliver this heartwarming slow-burn romance from Kristina Forest. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of two twenty-somethings who fall for each other twice over — once over a months-long email conversation, and once when they serendipitously wind up as neighbors. Lily and Nick form an easy connection as friends, but it takes a long time for them to realize their feelings for one another. Leigh portrays Lily with bright, sympathetic tones, while Rashad splendidly expresses the undertone of family trauma that underlies Nick’s friendly persona.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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POETRY UNBOUND by Pádraig Ó Tuama, read by Pádraig Ó Tuama

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Based on Pádraig Ó Tuama’s popular podcast, “Poetry Unbound,” this audiobook is a fine anthology of poetry, and a very good introduction to how to think about poetry itself. Ó Tuama is an especially good interpreter of poetry, both as a critic and as a reader, and he narrates brief and insightful essays about each of the fifty poems included in the collection. Each poem is read with thoughtfulness and skill in his Irish brogue, voicing poems from Ada Limón, Ilya Kaminsky, Ocean Vuong, and more.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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A WINTER GRAVE by Peter May, read by Peter Forbes

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Peter May’s excellent mystery pairs an outstanding performance by narrator Peter Forbes with a riveting story set in near-future Scotland. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this environmental sci-fi thriller set in the year 2051. Forbes is extremely easy to listen to, and he handles both dialogue and narration with aplomb. In this story, Detective Inspector Cameron Brodie is dispatched to the Highlands to investigate the murder of a man found encased in ice. The expressive narration and intriguing plot make for an atmospheric and memorable listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Quercus Editions.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE WOMAN WHO SPLIT THE ATOM by Marissa Moss, read by Sandy Rustin

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The life of groundbreaking nuclear physicist Lise Meitner (1878-1968) is given voice by narrator Sandy Rustin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how this inspiring audiobook will be available for free for teen listeners this summer through AudioFile’s SYNC program. Marginalized by sexism, Meitner, an Austrian Jew, struggled to pursue the field she loved, eventually earning her colleagues’ respect and a partnership with chemist Otto Hahn in Berlin. Nazi policies stripped her of her position and forced her to flee. In exile, she recognized the atomic behavior described by Hahn to be nuclear fission. Rustin’s nuanced delivery lets the story speak for itself, allowing listeners to feel Meitner’s anger and sorrow as Hahn eventually betrays their partnership and her world-changing insight is used in war.

Learn more about free audiobooks for teens at audiofilesync.com

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE NIGHT TRAVELERS by Armando Lucas Correa, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Edoardo Ballerini provides a gripping performance that captures the backdrop of historical events in Armando Lucas Correa’s novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this Golden Voice narrator’s skill at engaging listeners in a multi-generational saga that moves from Germany to Cuba to New York, encompassing war and revolution, family secrets, and devastating truth.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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SECRETS TYPED IN BLOOD by Stephen Spotswood, read by Kirsten Potter

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Private detectives Lillian Pentecost and Willowjean Parker are back! Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a new mystery audiobook from Stephen Spotswood, with a smashing performance by Kirsten Potter. It’s New York City in 1947, and Holly Quirk, writer of gruesome murder stories for STRANGE CRIMES magazine, hires detectives Pentecost and Parker after discovering that three murders from her stories have been enacted in real life. Plot twists and Potter’s narration put this clever P&P adventure right up there with the best.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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CHAOS THEORY by Nic Stone, read by Dion Graham, Nic Stone

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Author Nic Stone and narrator Dion Graham give voice to Shelbi and Andy, two teens who form an unexpected connection. Graham provides a multilayered portrayal of 18-year-old Andy, whose drinking is largely in response to trouble processing his younger sister’s death. Stone portrays Shelbi, a 16-year-old just released from a mental health facility for self harm. Together the narrators explore their characters’ vulnerabilities.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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CODE NAME BLUE WREN by Jim Popkin, read by Jim Popkin

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Investigative journalist Jim Popkin takes listeners on an incredible journey through the life of Ana Montes, possibly the most damaging female spy in America’s history. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a story where truth is stranger than fiction. Montes, the government’s top Cuba expert, worked closely with the intelligence community in the Castro years. She had top-secret clearance—and passed classified documents to Cuba. Popkin presents this true account with a matter-of-fact delivery, telling of the damage caused by Montes’s seventeen-year spying career.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY HAS KILLED SOMEONE by Benjamin Stevenson, read by Barton Welch

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Barton Welch keeps Benjamin Stevenson’s entertaining, highly original mystery light and lively, even during its most intense moments. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a listen all about a family of killers (some more culpable than others). Ernie Cunningham self-publishes books on writing, and he speaks directly to listeners. Each chapter is dedicated to a family member responsible for a death, and Welch keeps Ernie’s tongue-in-cheek attitude and direct comments amusing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU by Rebecca Makkai, read by Julia Whelan, JD Jackson

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan’s performance is so consistently gripping that listeners might attempt to finish Rebecca Makkai’s entire audiobook in a single sitting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss an audiobook all about a true-crime podcaster. Bodie has returned to her boarding school alma mater to teach a few courses in her area of expertise, podcasting, and is encouraged by her students to re-investigate the murder of Bodie’s roommate, Thalia. There are doubts as to whether the man imprisoned for the murder is actually guilty, and as Bodie digs deeper, she’s forced to confront complicated relationships on campus and beyond. Whelan deftly navigates the cast of characters, and JD Jackson shines in a pivotal cameo.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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THE SURVIVALISTS by Kashana Cauley, read by Bahni Turpin

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Kashana Cauley’s satirical comedy about survivalists, gun dealing, and finding happiness is masterfully narrated by Bahni Turpin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this lively and surprising audiobook. Aretha, an up-and-coming attorney, falls for Aaron, and when she moves in, Aretha discovers another side of him. Aretha’s life is thrown into chaos when she’s fired for missing a day of work—and then Turpin embodies a new and improved Aretha who only looks out for herself. Turpin’s performance perfect for this story full of sharp dialogue and a wicked sense of humor.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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AudioFile Favorites: MIRACLE AND WONDER by Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, Paul Simon, read by Malcom Gladwell, Paul Simon

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

This week Behind the Mic is revisiting favorite audiobooks that are contenders for the 2023 Audie Awards. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss MIRACLE AND WONDER, which gives listeners insights into Paul Simon’s professional and private life. Hear all about Simon’s songwriting, in his own words, through hours of conversations with the musician. This audiobook is a finalist for the 2023 Audiobook of the Year.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries.

Explore a full list of this year’s Audie Award finalists, along with audiobook reviews and sound samples, at theaudies.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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AudioFile Favorites: THE 1619 PROJECT by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Magazine, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman, Jake Silverstein [Eds.], read by Nikole Hannah-Jones and a Full Cast

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Behind the Mic is highlighting audiobooks that are up for the 2023 Audie Awards. Today we’re hearing AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed in discussion about THE 1619 PROJECT, Nikole Hannah-Jones’s ambitious work with the New York Times Magazine that tells the story of America through the lens of slavery. It’s a contender for the 2023 Audiobook of the Year and a finalist in the Multi-Voiced Performance category.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Explore a full list of this year’s Audie Award finalists, along with audiobook reviews and sound samples, at theaudies.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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AudioFile Favorites: GOOD OMENS by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, read by a full cast

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting favorite episodes this week on Behind the Mic, highlighting audiobooks that are up for 2023 Audie Awards. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss a fantastical full-cast audiobook adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s apocalyptic GOOD OMENS. This favorite comic novel gets the all-star treatment with narrators including Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and more. It’s up for Audie Awards in the Audio Drama and Fantasy categories this year.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Explore a full list of this year’s Audie Award finalists, along with audiobook reviews and sound samples, at theaudies.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from HarperCollins Focus, and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, publishers of some of your favorite audiobooks and authors, including Joanna Gaines, Zachary Levi, Kathie Lee Gifford, Max Lucado, Willie Nelson, and so many more!

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AudioFile Favorites: NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Behind the Mic is sharing episodes this week focused on some of the 2023 Audie Award finalists. Today’s episode is on NIGHTCRAWLING, Leila Mottley’s novel narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt. This audiobook is up for the Best Female Narrator Audie this year, and it was also one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of 2022. Listen in to hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discussing this powerful fiction audiobook with unforgettable narrators and a moving narration.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Explore a full list of this year’s Audie Award finalists, along with audiobook reviews and sound samples, at theaudies.com

Behind the Mic is supported by Brilliance Publishing who recently released The Survivalists, a sharp, funny novel by Kashana Cauley. An ambitious Black lawyer has dreams of making partner, until she falls for a coffee entrepreneur and moves into his Brooklyn brownstone with his doomsday-prepping roommates. Packed with tension, curiosity and optimized soy protein bars, The Survivalists is a darkly funny novel by Kashana Cauley, a former writer for The Daily Show and Pod Save America.

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AudioFile Favorites: FINDING ME by Viola Davis, read by Viola Davis

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Behind the Mic is revisiting audiobooks that are up for the 2023 Audie Awards. The Audie Awards are the Oscars of audiobooks and shine a spotlight on excellent audiobook performances. We’re starting with an audiobook that has already won a Grammy this year — Viola Davis’s FINDING ME. Davis’s electric memoir is up for an Audie Award in both the Audiobook of the Year and Narrated by the Author categories, and it was on AudioFile’s list of Best Audiobooks of 2022. Learn more about this audiobook in host Jo Reed’s conversation with AudioFile’s Michele Cobb.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Explore a full list of this year’s Audie Award finalists, along with audiobook reviews and sound samples, at theaudies.com

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HAVE YOU EATEN YET? by Cheuk Kwan, read by Brian Nishii

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Brian Nishii’s delivery brings a multicultural finesse to author Cheuk Kwan’s search for Chinese restaurants around the world. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this culinary journey across Brazil, Mumbai, Saskatchewan, the Caribbean, Israel, and to far flung outposts, all where Chinese restaurants can be found. Using delectable food creations as entry points, this heartwarming and enlightening exploration of the Chinese diaspora is a sumptuous smorgasbord of culture and history that is sure to satisfy even the biggest appetite.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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FOODTOPIA by Margot Anne Kelley, read by Nicol Zanzarella

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Nicol Zanzarella’s crisp narration propels Margot Anne Kelley’s wide-ranging love letter to homegrown food. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Zanzarella performs this examination of the historical impulse to live off the land. Kelley looks back at utopian foodways, from failed 19th-century experiments to 20th-century back-to-the-land hippies to current rural escapees. She captures the yearning for self sufficiency, explores challenges for African American farmers, and reflects on the omnipresence of big agriculture.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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EAT & FLOURISH by Mary Beth Albright, read by Caroline Shaffer, Grover Gardner [Intro.]

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Caroline Shaffer brings the right tone and tempo to Mary Beth Albright’s audiobook on “How Food Supports Emotional Well-Being” that examines the relationships between food and mood. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this packed audiobook that merges experience with science—and includes recipes. A talented food writer for the WASHINGTON POST, Albright has a gift for simplifying the complex and gamely participates in experiments. A fun and informative listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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SEAT AT THE TABLE by Marcus Samuelsson, read by Marcus Samuelsson, Jonathan Waxman

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s podcast gives listeners insider access to the world of fine dining. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the episodes dedicated to eight iconic eateries. Samuelsson and co-host chef Jonathan Waxman regale listeners with tales of famous restaurants including The French Laundry, Spago, and Dooky Chase, as well as Gabrielle Hamilton’s Prune, which shuttered during the start of the COVID pandemic. All the backstories and fortunes of the various establishments make this a compelling listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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RED SAUCE by Ian MacAllen, read by Paul Bellantoni

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Paul Bellantoni narrates Ian MacAllen’s witty audiobook with a fine delivery and a rich tone. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed about an audiobook that will make you want to open a bottle of chianti and pull up a chair for a delicious meal. MacAllen’s history is part celebration of the traditional checkered tablecloth joints and part revelation of the origins of Italian dishes that American celebrate. Listeners hear of the history of dishes from tetrazzini to pasta primavera and will definitely be left craving a big plate of spaghetti.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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A MINOR CHORUS by Billy-Ray Belcourt, read by Jesse Nobess

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jesse Nobess gives a contemplative performance of Cree poet Billy-Ray Belcourt’s genre-defying debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this novel of ideas told from the perspective of an unnamed protagonist writing a novel based on oral histories. Jesse Nobess embodies the unnamed protagonist’s narrative voice. The character talks to many closeted gay Indigenous men, discussing why they feel they can’t be open with their identities. Nobess often sounds as if he's working something out as he speaks, which suits the story that explores ideas, feelings, and theory. Creative, moving, inventive, and powerful, this audiobook is a must-listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hamish Hamilton.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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MOONRISE OVER NEW JESSUP by Jamila Minnicks, read by Karen Chilton

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Karen Chilton’s performance of Jamila Minnicks’s debut novel is what happens when an outstanding narrator finds their perfect match in a text. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this historical novel about Alice Young, who in 1957 flees her home in rural Alabama and lands in New Jessup. It’s an all-Black town that has spent generations carving out a place for itself as a safe haven for Black families. Chilton is a stunning narrator, and she captures the Southern dialect and Alice’s narrative voice to tell this emotional story of community and love.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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ANOTHER APPALACHIA by Neema Avashia, read by Jeed Saddy

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jeed Saddy performs this dazzling debut essay collection from author Neema Avashina. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the essays, which explore Avashia’s experience growing up as a queer Indian American woman in West Virginia. Identities are messy, and Saddy’s narration captures the emotional complexity of Avashia’s life. As we follow Avashia through basketball games and Hindu holidays, Saddy imbues her performance with all of the tenderness and hope that Avashia has for her hometown and the people who helped make her who she is today.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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BAD CREE by Jessica Johns, read by Tanis Parenteau

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Tanis Parenteau leaps right into narrating Jessica Johns’s chilling debut horror novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story where dreams become horrifyingly real. Mackenzie is a 20-something Cree woman living in Vancouver, and she wakes from a vivid nightmare with a crow’s head clutched in her hand. Parenteau conveys all of Mackenzie’s anxiety and quickens her pace as Mackenzie’s nightmares turn more sinister and she’s stalked by crows. Mackenzie returns home after years away, and as her family becomes involved, each loving relative comes alive through Parenteau’s rich characterizations.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AGE OF VICE by Deepti Kapoor, read by Vidish Athavale

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Vidish Athavale draws listeners into this sweeping crime novel set in New Delhi. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss Deepti Kapoor’s epic story packed with twists and turns. When a speeding Mercedes jumps off the road and kills five people, Ajay takes the fall for his boss, Sonny, the son of a rich man with criminal dealings in the city. Athavale’s narration captures both the tumultuous life of Ajay’s childhood and the endless spectacle of Sonny’s backroom dealings. It’s an audiobook with an incredible atmosphere that will have listeners on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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NICK AND CHARLIE by Alice Oseman, read by Joe Jameson, David Stagg

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrators Joe Jameson and David Stagg tenderly deliver this touching audiobook that’s an essential listen for fans of the Heartstopper series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this heartfelt novella, full of angst, set after the Heartstopper graphic novels. Charlie is anxious about Nick’s impending departure for university, and what long distance will mean for their relationship. Charlie, voiced by Jameson, is full of uncertainty, while we hear Nick’s initial confidence fall apart in Stagg’s moving narration. Listeners will be holding their breath until the story’s sweet conclusion.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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SERWA BOATENG'S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING by Roseanne A. Brown, read by Soneela Nankani

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Soneela Nankani suffuses Serwa Boateng with strength and passion in Roseanne A. Brown’s fantastic audiobook for middle-grade listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and thrills of getting to hear Serwa’s story, rooted in Ghanaian folklore. Serwa has spent her life training with her parents to fight deadly adze, fierce vampires. Suddenly, she’s sent to live with non-magical family members while her parents go on a deadlier mission, and she has to navigate middle school for the first time. As Serwa goes up against bullies and racist teachers, Nankani leans into her pain—but when an adze appears at school, Serwa finds a team of unlikely allies.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Disney Hyperion.

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INVISIBLE by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Gabriela Epstein, read by Andrés Hinspeter-Seda, Noah Rico, Lisset Díaz, Sarah Tie, Christian Barillas, and a Full Cast

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Five very different students find commonality and friendship in this superb audio adaptation of Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein’s bilingual graphic novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the outstanding full cast, including the animated performances of the five students in all their complexities, in both Spanish and English. The students are all part of a morning volunteer program in the cafeteria, and they each play a role in supporting a family they discover are in need of some extra help and kindness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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RUBY SPENCER'S WHISKY YEAR by Rochelle Bilow, read by Nikki Massoud

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Nikki Massoud’s lively voice welcomes listeners to a charming Highlands romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this contemporary romance from Rochelle Bilow that provides a delicious escape. Ruby Spencer is desperate to make a change, and she flies off for a year in Thistlecross, Scotland, hoping for inspiration to write a cookbook and find a fresh start. She finds gorgeous countryside, a charming community, and romance, all brought to life by Massoud’s talented narration.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS AND UNFAIRLY CUTE by Talia Hibbert, read by Amina Koroma, Jonathan Andrew Hume

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Amina Koroma and Jonathan Andrew Hume bring liveliness and charm to an utterly delightful teen romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this wonderful YA debut from beloved British romance author Talia Hibbert. Koroma delivers all of Celine’s snark and wit, while her ex-best-friend-now-rival Brad is narrated with sweet charm by Hume. The two are suddenly spending way more time together as they compete in a wilderness survival program, out in the woods of England and Scotland. Listeners are certain to laugh, cheer, and root for the two to find their way back into each other’s hearts.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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WINNIE-THE-POOH by A.A. Milne, read by Barbara Rosenblat

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about a childhood favorite, WINNIE-THE-POOH, which Golden Voice narrator Barbara Rosenblat enlivens with a magnificent performance. Rosenblat masterfully delights in and embodies wonder, innocence, and imagination in her narration. Children of all ages will enjoy the story of Pooh’s love of honey, the search for Eeyore’s tail, the hunt for a Woozle, and more. Listen along to the tale on our Audiobook Break podcast, and visit all the favorite friends in the Hundred Acre Woods.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Design Sound Productions.

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WAYPOINTS by Sam Heughan, read by Sam Heughan

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Sam Heughan, OUTLANDER’s Jamie Fraser, recounts his journey across the 96 miles of Scotland’s West Highland Way. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Heughan completely charms listeners with his engaging style and enthusiasm. The story of his journey becomes a metaphor for Heughan’s life as an actor in his atmospheric and absorbing memoir. The inclusion of live recordings made during Heughan’s hike, complete with the sounds of strong wind and heavy rain, are a lovely addition. A great audiobook for fans of OUTLANDER, armchair travelers, or anyone looking for an adventurous listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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ROUGH SLEEPERS by Tracy Kidder, read by Tracy Kidder

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Tracy Kidder’s newest audiobook exploring the complex problems of homelessness, and how one person can make a difference. Kidder’s light, somewhat raspy voice unfolds the story of Dr. Jim O’Connell and his clinic partners, who have devoted themselves to bringing comprehensive and compassionate healthcare to those living on the streets of Boston. The focus, however, is firmly placed on those using Dr. O’Connell’s services, and Kidder provides a riveting, intimate glimpse of the lives of rough sleepers that is both inspiring and heartbreaking.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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EXILES by Jane Harper, read by Stephen Shanahan

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Stephen Shanahn’s easygoing tone and Australian accent welcome listeners to another Aaron Falk mystery from Jane Harper, this time set in South Australia’s wine country. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Falk’s missing-person mystery set in a close-knit community harboring many secrets. It’s a story that seems calm and straightforward on the surface but reveals layers of complexity as you listen. The dialogue and narrative flow naturally, infused with believable emotions that underscore Shanahan’s grasp of the author’s style.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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PLAYING UNDER THE PIANO by Hugh Bonneville, read by Hugh Bonneville

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Hugh Bonneville’s memoir is funny, personal, informative, insightful, and fun to listen to. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how the world-class actor tells a marvelous story, making this an excellent listen for any lovers of celebrity memoirs — and the theater. Bonneville is known for his role as the Earl of Grantham on “Downton Abbey” and the stern father on “Paddington” but also has spent many years on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He narrates his memoir with an easy style and modulated tone and is an excellent mimic. This well-written memoir is delivered with the timing, pace, and skill of a seasoned raconteur.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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DYING OF POLITENESS by Geena Davis, read by Geena Davis

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Actor Geena Davis narrates her hilarious memoir about growing up a polite young lady who eventually challenged the entertainment industry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how the story traces her awkward upbringing to model to movie star, illuminating more about her relationships and influences. An icon of feminist films, Davis retraces her steps in finding her voice. Fans of her acting will find much to admire in these self-revelatory chapters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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SHE MEMES WELL by Quinta Brunson, read by Quinta Brunson

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Quinta Brunson is a comic and successful television writer who brings all of her talents to her hilarious memoir, stuffed full of anecdotes about her unconventional career path. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Brunson’s essays that recount her childhood, her previous jobs, and her success creating the hit TV series “Abbott Elementary.” Brunson is generous with personal insights and maintains high energy throughout her performance, making for a fun and lively listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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SURRENDER by Bono, read by Bono

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

U2 frontman and activist Bono sings like an Irish tenor but performs his memoir with a resonant baritone that sounds clear and effortless. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how Bono does an excellent job presenting his own words, and the singing, music, and sound effects combine for a real listening experience. Fans will undoubtedly want to hear this audio version of Bono’s story to hear his distinct sound, his accent, and his singing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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SPARE by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, read by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Stifled by protocol his entire life, Prince Harry has a lot to say as he addresses rumors and lies in his memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how Harry and his wife Meghan have captured the interest of the world from their wedding to high-profile interviews, a Netflix documentary, and now this much anticipated autobiography by the prince himself. Prince Harry’s voice is clear and steady for much of the audiobook, and his grief over the death of his mother is evident. He takes listeners on a fascinating journey that doesn’t disappoint.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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A HEART THAT WORKS by Rob Delaney, read by Rob Delaney

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Actor, comedian, and writer Rob Delaney narrates the ineffably sad events surrounding the brief life and death of his third son, Henry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a memorable audiobook that makes you feel for the actor and his family. Delaney’s subdued voice and resolute cadence provide the perfect vehicle for the crushing sorrow and towering anger he experienced at having his son’s life cut short by brain cancer. He weaves in the lives of his wife, two older sons, and extended family, describing the ways they all were, and still are, affected by Henry’s illness and death.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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EMPATHY ECONOMICS by Owen Ullmann, read by Christine Padovan

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an audiobook centered around Treasury Secretary and former Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s essential empathy. Christine Padovan narrates this biography of a woman who has reached the highest levels of public service with a subtle, thoughtful voice and slight New York accent. Owen Ullmann writes of Yellen’s life of exceptional achievement, her economic acumen, and her people skills. All are fully displayed in this laudatory biography.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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THE ABYSS by Max Hastings, read by John Hopkins, Max Hastings

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

John Hopkins’s rich, dramatic voice suits Max Hastings’s account of the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the world was on the verge of a nuclear catastrophe. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Hopkins narrates this dramatic and crucial moment in history, now more than 60 years ago. Here is an audiobook for those who relish detailed and dramatic history, those who want to know how we got to where we are today with the Russians, or those who simply appreciate cliff-hanger situations narrated with exceptional skill.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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BEAVERLAND by Leila Philip, read by Christine Lakin

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Christine Lakin’s enthusiasm and authenticity lure the listener into Leila Philip’s world of beavers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this homage to the ingenuity and group intelligence of these remarkable dam builders and water capturers. Philip casts a wide net as she delves into the cultural significance of beavers to some North American tribes, stresses how vitally important beaver dams are to clean water, and accompanies trappers, goes to fur auctions, and skins a pelt herself. Lakin captures the respect and empathy Philip has for trappers, traders, and environmentalists alike, and portrays the lighter moments as well.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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THE PERSUADERS by Anand Giridharadas, read by Anand Giridharadas

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Anand Giridharadas narrates his work in a serious tone and journalistic style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an audiobook that tells stories of how committed activists use persuasion in organizing to attract supporters. He reads with a storyteller’s sense as he introduces the Internet Research Agency—a Russian troll farm that won both liberal and conservative Americans’ hearts and minds online. He also delves into deep canvassing, a process that encourages like-mindedness as a basis for connection and political action.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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THE ESSENTIAL DICK GREGORY by Dick Gregory, Christian Gregory [Ed.], read by Joe Morton, Christian Gregory, Andre Gaines, Afrika K. Kenjyatta

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

A marvelous narration brings the comedian, activist, vegetarian, and civil rights leader Dick Gregory vividly to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Joe Morton’s narration is a marvel of emulation, impersonation, and soulful rejuvenation of Gregory. Along with having mastered Gregory’s unique style, he captures his humility, candor, and sense of fun. Famous at an early age, Gregory was a bestselling author, a nightclub comic, and a progressive who went on hunger strikes to protest a number of issues, including the Vietnam War. This splendid collection merits a wide audience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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DISABILITY PRIDE by Ben Mattlin, read by Anthony Michael Lopez

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a detailed examination of disability rights in America since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990. Ben Mattlin’s work details the history of the disability rights movement and how it has progressed, and Anthony Michael Lopez narrates with a vibrant performance. Each chapter captures the listener’s attention and clearly lays out the information. Lopez skillfully differentiates between general text, excerpts from documents, and quotes, helping listeners easily follow along.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Beacon Press.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's The MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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GHOST MUSIC by An Yu, read by Vera Chok

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Vera Chok narrates An Yu’s eerie novel full of dreams of talking mushrooms and heartbroken musicians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the story of Song Yan, who lives with her husband and mother-in-law in a Beijing apartment. Everyone tells her she should be happy, but she exists in a fog of loneliness. The mystery of the novel begins when a package of unusual mushrooms arrives at her home. Now Song must find out who sent them—which leads to the discovery of the home of a famous musician who went missing many years ago. Chok’s performance skillfully evokes the rising gloom and desperation that Song experiences throughout the story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION by Bushra Rehman, read by Bushra Rehman

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Bushra Rehman performs her novel of a queer Pakistani American girl coming of age and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this novel, a working class story of growing up as a girl in Queens. Razia Mirza is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and while her parents are very traditional, Razia begins to want something different from their expectations of marriage and children. Author Rehman brings complexity to her performance, and as Razia begins rebelling in small ways, Rehman adds a layer of emotional intimacy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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Brad Meltzer and Scott Brick in Conversation

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed spoke with author Brad Meltzer and Golden Voice narrator Scott Brick about their longtime collaboration, and about Meltzer’s new nonfiction audiobook, THE NAZI CONSPIRACY, out today. Both truly appreciate the other’s work—listen to their conversation about their many years of working together on audiobooks, the research that goes into the writing and narration of Meltzer’s works, and the differences between narrating action-packed thrillers and history audiobooks that uncover shocking stories for listeners.

Read our review of THE NAZI CONSPIRACY on our website, where you can also discover many more audiobook reviews of Brad Meltzer’s and Scott Brick’s collaborations over the years.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE YOU by Meg Howrey, read by Meg Howrey

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Meg Howrey performs her latest novel, a captivating story set against the backdrop of 1980s and ’90s Manhattan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss the intense atmosphere that Howrey creates. Carlisle grew up with her mother in the midwest, spending summers with her father, Robert, and his partner, James. As an adult, Carlisle is now estranged from her father and losing herself in her work as a choreographer. Howrey’s narration creates an emotionally intimate listening experience as Carlisle receives a call from James that her father is on his deathbed. Listeners will hang on every word, enraptured until the very last sentence.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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MY DARKEST PRAYER by S.A. Cosby, read by Adam Lazarre-White, S.A. Cosby [Intro.]

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Adam Lazarre-White performs S.A. Cosby’s reissued debut novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this story of Nathan Waymaker, a former law enforcement officer now working at his cousin’s funeral home. When a local pastor dies under mysterious circumstances, Waymaker is approached to look into the pastor’s death. Lazarre-White’s subtle performance is a master class in narrating an audiobook from a single viewpoint.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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HOW TO KEEP HOUSE WHILE DROWNING by KC Davis, read by KC Davis, Raquel Martin

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss an audiobook that can be a gentle, compassionate guide for the year ahead. HOW TO KEEP HOUSE WHILE DROWNING is KC Davis’s welcoming, affirming audiobook about taking care of your house and yourself when the world is overwhelming. Her voice is warm and understanding; whether listeners are struggling with depression or the ongoing pandemic, have young kids at home, or are otherwise stuck, Davis offers support and helpful guidance with everything from laundry to dishes to making a to-do list that won’t intimidate you. Look ahead to the new year with this audiobook in your back pocket as a supportive guide.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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SIR CALLIE AND THE CHAMPIONS OF HELSTON by Esme Symes-Smith, read by Dani Martineck, Esme Symes-Smith

Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Listeners will love adventuring with Callie, a nonbinary twelve-year-old determined to become a knight. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Esme Symes-Smith’s audiobook narrated by Dani Martineck with emotion and great energy. Callie lives in a realm with very strict boundaries between genders—only girls study magic, and boys stick to swordplay. Callie forges their own path ahead, with a pinch of magic and a great deal of determination—but a lot stands in their way. Martineck shines in their portrayal of this confident character in the confines of a disapproving world. Young listeners will love hearing this fantasy story where Callie and their new friends triumph, helping make the path ahead better for all.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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ASTRID PARKER DOESN'T FAIL by Ashley Herring Blake, read by Kristen DiMercurio

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Kristen DiMercurio’s warm, expressive voice invites listeners back to Bright Falls as interior designer Astrid Parker and carpenter Jordan Everwood prepare for a televised renovation of the Everwood Inn. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this excellent follow-up to Ashley Herring Blake’s DELILAH GREEN DOESN’T CARE, which earned a spot on AudioFile’s Best Romance list for 2022. After a disastrous first encounter, Jordan and Astrid bristle at working together. DiMercurio teases out all the delightful tension between Astrid’s polished veneer and Jordan’s down-to-earthiness as they wind up concealing their burgeoning romance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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BLOODMARKED by Tracy Deonn, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt brings boundless energy to her narration of Tracy Deonn’s action-packed YA fantasy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this compelling sequel to LEGENDBORN, a contemporary fantasy series that draws on the legends of King Arthur. Bree Matthews has unlocked new powers in herself and now must learn to control them to reunite and protect her court and her friends. The story makes lightning-quick shifts into intense battles, and Abbott-Pratt keeps listeners on the edge of their seats with her incredible pacing and skilled dialogue. The story expands Bree’s world, introducing listeners to new characters and going deeper into a captivating world of ancestral magic, ancient powers, and fierce demons.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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THE WORLD WE MAKE by N.K. Jemisin, read by Robin Miles

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Robin Miles returns to narrate Book 2 in N.K. Jemisin’s Great Cities series, and she gives listeners a masterful performance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this multidimensional battle between good and evil, continuing the story from THE CITY WE BECAME. The avatars of New York City and its boroughs are fighting for their right to exist—and for the fate of their multiverse. Miles transforms into the essence of each of the boroughs and the city itself, making each one vibrant and distinctive. Smart use of technical effects makes the invading city of R’lyeh sound alien and unnatural. A listen that will linger in your mind.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Rob White's THE MAESTRO MONOLOGUE from PUNCH AUDIO, creators of first-class audiobooks for independent authors the world over.

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Dirk Maggs

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

We’re closing out this week of AudioFile Favorite interviews by featuring host Jo Reed’s conversation with the producer, director, and writer Dirk Maggs. If you love audio theater, then you know his work — his productions immerse listeners in the worlds that he creates. In a career spanning 30 years, he’s won many national and international awards. He first made a name for himself turning DC comics into audio productions, and he’s a longtime collaborator with Neil Gaiman. Most recently that has resulted in three incredible audio adaptations of THE SANDMAN, Gaiman’s beloved classic comic book series.

Read our reviews of Dirk Maggs’s audiobooks on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Will Seeking Justice Lead to Her Own Demise? Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of BENEATH HIS SILENCE, a gothic-style regency romance from promising young author, Hannah Linder. Narrated by Anne Flosnik. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Adjoa Andoh

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s revisiting favorite interviews from Behind the Mic, and today we’re featuring a conversation with Golden Voice narrator and actor Adjoa Andoh. Listen to host Jo Reed and Adjoa as they discuss her career in acting and audiobooks, the power of acting, and the incredible success of “Bridgerton,” the Netflix series in which she plays scene-stealer Lady Danbury. Adjoa Andoh is a well-loved British actor of stage, screen, and radio, and she has brought hundreds of audiobooks to life for listeners over the years, many Earphones award-winners. She’s been recognized on AudioFile’s annual Best Audiobooks lists for her narrations across a range of genres, from historical fiction to fantastical sci-fi to lively contemporary romances.

Read our reviews of Adjoa Andoh’s audiobooks on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with LeVar Burton

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is revisiting favorite interviews all this week, and we had to highlight one from way back in the beginning of Behind the Mic: Jo Reed’s interview with LeVar Burton. We all know LeVar from “Roots,” as the beloved host of “Reading Rainbow,” and the host of his podcast “LeVar Burton Reads,” and more iconic roles. Here, LeVar and Jo discuss his friend and mentor, Fred Rogers, and how he jumped at the opportunity to narrate THE GOOD NEIGHBOR, a close look at the host of the PBS television series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Listen as LeVar discusses getting to know Fred Rogers, their shared vision for creating engaging and meaningful programming for children, and how his acting career launched by his role on “Roots.” He also tells listeners about how he came to focus on reading aloud to children, and why he continues to believe in the power of the spoken word and storytelling.

Read our reviews of LeVar Burton’s audiobooks on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, featuring the finest in specially curated novels including THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, Victor Hugo’s 1869 biting arraignment of the aristocracy for their vices, crimes, and selfishness. Lavishly narrated by Simon Vance. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Jason Reynolds

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting favorite interviews this week, and today’s is a moving conversation with the always inspiring author Jason Reynolds. Host Jo Reed and Jason Reynolds talk about STAMPED, his young readers’ remix of Ibram X. Kendi’s STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING, and they also talk about the importance of writing for younger readers, the power of audiobook listening, and meeting kids where they are. Jason is now stepping down from his role as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and this interview gives you a chance to hear from Jason about the role at the very beginning of his term.

Find interviews of Jason Reynolds’s moving and Earphones Award-winning audiobooks on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Robert Bathurst

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is revisiting some of our favorite long-form interviews this week. Here, host Jo Reed interviews Robert Bathurst, the actor and narrator who brings Louise Penny’s beloved Chief Inspector Gamache to life on audio. Robert has won AudioFile Earphones Awards and Audie Awards for his work on the Three Pines series. Listen to hear more about the long-running series, his journey to narrating audiobooks, and more.

Read our reviews of Robert Bathurst’s audiobooks on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile Favorites: TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s revisiting favorite episodes of Behind the Mic this week, with great last-minute audiobook gifts in mind. Today’s recommendation is for a captivating fantasy audiobook for kids, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY by Kwame Mbalia, read by Amir Abudllah. Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly as they talk about this thrilling listen for kids and families. The best part — this is book one in a three-part series, so there’s more excellent storytelling adventures to look forward to!

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AudioFile Favorites: SUCH A FUN AGE

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

This week on the podcast we’re revisiting favorite audiobooks from our years on Behind the Mic. Today’s discussion is about Kiley Reid’s SUCH A FUN AGE, an Earphones and Audie Award winner read by Nicole Lewis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the memorable debut novel on race, privilege, and money and the lively narration that will keep anyone glued to their earbuds. An excellent gift for fans of fiction audiobooks.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile Favorites: ZABAR’S

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is revisiting some favorite audiobooks this week, with your holiday gift lists in mind. Today’s audiobook discussion has AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff and host Jo Reed talking all about babkas, bagels, and more culinary delights from the iconic New York deli, Zabar’s. Erin Bennett narrates this family memoir that’s also a slice of New York City history, bringing the right blend of appreciation and conviction to her narration. The perfect gift — perhaps with babka or rugelach in hand.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AudioFile Favorites: AN IMMENSE WORLD

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

We’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes this week on the podcast, with holiday gift giving in mind. Today’s discussion has host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talking about the perfect gift for any animal lover, natural history nerd, or budding scientist in your life. Ed Yong’s narration of his AN IMMENSE WORLD is full of charm and enthusiasm, and the audiobook is packed with facts that will broaden your view of the world around you.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AudioFile Favorites: LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is revisiting some of our favorite episodes this week, this time with holiday gift giving in mind. Listen to hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI, Rinker Buck’s tale of an unusual journey narrated by Jason Culp. It makes for an ideal gift for a history lover in your life, as Buck recounts his 2016 journey down the Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers in a flatboat.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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MARIE KONDO'S KURASHI AT HOME by Marie Kondo, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the new audiobook from Marie Kondo centered around “kurashi,” or “way of life.” There’s a quiet enthusiasm in Traci Kato-Kiriyama’s narration that elicits calm and inspiration—emotions that are fitting for kurashi at home. Both the author and narrator make it sound easy to tap into our ideal vision for our life and space and to incorporate the habits that will allow us to live with simplicity and joy. A great last-minute gift idea for a listener who wants to start the new year with a fresh perspective.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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MAGNOLIA FLOWER by Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi [Adapt.], read by Sheryl Lee Ralph

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”) displays her magical acting talents throughout her bold narration of this adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s short story, “Magnolia Flower,” for young listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ralph’s resonant, full voice. Ralph delights listeners as she breathes additional life into this story of love and freedom. The wise river tells the young, babbling brook about Bentley, an enslaved man who escaped to freedom and built a community of other freed people.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com https://audiofilemagazine.com/

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A WORLD OF CURIOSITIES by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Bathurst performs this 18th Inspector Gamache mystery with the assurance of one who knows the village of Three Pines and its (mostly) gentle residents well, and fans are in for a treat. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss returning to Three Pines, where, years after Gamache and Beauvoir investigated the murder of a mother, her two adult children arrive in the village. Their surprise arrival triggers remembrances of things past. Bathurst weaves several timelines together seamlessly, revealing crimes against women, child abuse, revenge, and murder.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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Interview with Julia Whelan: 2022 Best Romance Audiobooks

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Author and Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk all about writing and narrating THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, a romance between two narrators that earned a spot on our list of 2022 Best Audiobooks. Hear about what it was like to narrate her own work and how Julia thought about all of the character voices as she was writing and developing their stories. Listen to discover some of her own experiences with narrating that she brought into the booth and what will stick with her about writing and narrating this romance.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Harper Audio.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Romance Audiobooks:

DELILAH GREEN DOESN'T CARE by Ashley Herring Blake, read by Kristen DiMercurio

HONEY & SPICE by Bolu Babalola, read by Weruche Opia

KAMILA KNOWS BEST by Farah Heron, read by Soneela Nankani

SEATMATE by Cara Bastone, read by Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, Josh Hurley, Carol Monda, Corey Allen, Allyson Johnson, Eric Yves Garcia, Tanya Eby, Dina Pearlman

SOMETHING FABULOUS by Alexis Hall, read by Nicholas Boulton

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING by Julia Whelan, read by Julia Whelan

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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Interview with January LaVoy: 2022 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss C.L. Polk’s fantasy EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END. Her captivating talents are on full display as she voices this romantic, fantastical noir mystery that is on AudioFile’s list of 2022 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy audiobooks. Hear from January about how she approached the challenges presented by this audiobook, what she loves about narrating fantasy stories for listeners, and what’s stayed with her about this audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Recorded Books.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks:

THE ATLAS SIX by Olivie Blake, read by Steve West, David Monteith, Damian Lynch, Caitlin Kelly, Andy Ingalls, Munirih Grace, Siho Ellsmore, James Patrick Cronin

A COURT OF MIST AND FURY (1 OF 2) by Sarah J. Maas, read by Melody Muze, Anthony Palmini, Henry W. Kramer, Jon Vertullo, Amanda Forstrom, and a Full Cast

EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L. Polk, read by January LaVoy

MAXINE JUSTICE by Daniel Schwabauer, read by Aimee Lilly

MOON WITCH, SPIDER KING by Marlon James, read by Bahni Turpin

WITCHES ABROAD by Terry Pratchett, read by Indira Varma, Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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Interview with Brian Nishii: 2022 Best Children & Family Listening

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Brian Nishii joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss Genzaburo Yoshino’s HOW DO YOU LIVE?, a Japanese classic from 1937 with a new translation by Bruno Navasky. Named one of AudioFile’s Best Children & Family Listening audiobooks, HOW DO YOU LIVE? remains surprisingly relevant today, intertwining the adventures of a young teenager with philosophical conversations with his beloved uncle. Nishii tells listeners about the challenges of bringing this title to a contemporary audience, his approach to narrating audiobooks for younger listeners, and more.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Recorded Books.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Children’ & Family Listening:

A IS FOR OBOE: THE ORCHESTRA'S ALPHABET by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, read by Thomas Quasthoff

A DIFFERENT POND by Bao Phi, read by Bao Phi

EYES THAT SPEAK TO THE STARS by Joanna Ho, read by Justin Chien

HOW DO YOU LIVE? by Genzaburo Yoshino, Bruno Navasky [Trans.], Neil Gaiman [Fore.], read by Brian Nishii

THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat, read by Sura Siu

WINNIE-THE-POOH by A.A. Milne, read by Barbara Rosenblat

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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Interview with Deepti Gupta: 2022 Best Young Adult Audiobooks

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Deepti Gupta joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to discuss her co-narration of a powerful novel for teens, Sabaa Tahir’s ALL MY RAGE. The National Book Award winner earned a spot on AudioFile’s list of Best Young Adult audiobooks this year for the impact of its performance, narrated in turn by Deepti, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed. Listen to hear how Deepti approached narrating this layered contemporary novel, how the three narrators worked together to tell this story, and what will stick with her about narrating this audiobook.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Listening Library.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Young Adult Audiobooks:

AIN'T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT by Jason Reynolds, read by Jason Reynolds, Nile Bullock, Tatum Marylin Hall, JaQwan J. Kelly, DePre Owens

ALL MY RAGE by Sabaa Tahir, read by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, Kausar Mohammed

BREATHE AND COUNT BACK FROM TEN by Natalia Sylvester, read by Frankie Corzo

THE HONEYS by Ryan La Sala, read by Pete Cross

THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD by Tiffany D. Jackson, read by JD Jackson, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Joy Nash, Christopher Salazar, Karen Malina White

WHAT SOULS ARE MADE OF by Tasha Suri, read by Alex Williams, Becca Hirani

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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Interview with Soneela Nankani: 2022 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about one of our 2022 Best Mystery Audiobooks—Harini Nagendra’s THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB. Soneela paints a vibrant listening experience that launches listeners into a new series. Soneela tells listeners how she approached narrating this historical mystery set in 1920s colonial Bangalore, and about the fun and challenges of narrating an audiobook full of characters with many accents.

Read the full review of the audiobook at AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks:

THE BANGALORE DETECTIVES CLUB by Harini Nagendra, read by Soneela Nankani

BIRDS OF PREY by Kelley Armstrong, Ace Atkins, C.J. Box, Allison Brennan, S.A. Cosby, et al., read by Lisa Flanagan, Nicky Endres, Fred Berman, MacLeod Andrews, Justis Bolding, Cary Hite, Helen Laser, Amanda Dolan, Dan Bittner, Julia Motyka, Eunice Wong

THE BULLET THAT MISSED by Richard Osman, read by Fiona Shaw, Richard Osman, Steph McGovern [Interview]

THE MAID by Nita Prose, read by Lauren Ambrose

THE MATCH by Harlan Coben, read by Steven Weber

A SPY'S LIFE by Henry Porter, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com.

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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Interview with Robin Miles: 2022 Best History & Biography Audiobooks

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Robin Miles joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss her empathetic and moving narration of Zora Neale Hurston’s YOU DON’T KNOW US NEGROES. Hear about why Robin Miles believes Hurston’s work is still so relevant to listeners today, her approach to narrating Hurston’s audiobooks, and more observations on the rich variety of topics covered in Hurston’s essays.

Read the full review of the audiobook at AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best History & Biography Audiobooks:

AMERICAN MIDNIGHT by Adam Hochschild, read by Jonathan Todd Ross

FRANKLINLAND by Lloyd Suh, read by Gregory Harrison, Larry Powell, Kurt Kanazawa

HIS NAME IS GEORGE FLOYD by Robert Samuels, Toluse Olorunnipa, read by Dion Graham, Robert Samuels, Toluse Olorunnipa [Intro.]

THE REVOLUTIONARY: SAMUEL ADAMS by Stacy Schiff, read by Jason Culp

SUPER-INFINITE by Katherine Rundell, read by Simon Vance

YOU DON'T KNOW US NEGROES by Zora Neale Hurston, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Genevieve West [Eds. & Intro.], read by Robin Miles

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com.

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Interview with Lake Bell: 2022 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Actor, author, and film director Lake Bell joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to learn more about Bell’s intriguing audio-only title, INSIDE VOICE. Listen to hear how Lake developed the idea to explore the power of voice in this audiobook packed full of archival material, recordings of people on the street, and interviews with experts. Hear what surprised her about what she learned about voices, and what she hopes listeners get out of the work.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Pushkin Industries.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks:

BAD CITY by Paul Pringle, read by Robert Petkoff

FEN, BOG & SWAMP by Annie Proulx, read by Gabra Zackman

INSIDE VOICE by Lake Bell, read by Lake Bell et al.

LIFE BETWEEN THE TIDES by Adam Nicolson, read by Leighton Pugh

THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG by Bob Dylan, read by Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, Renée Zellweger

RHYME'S ROOMS by Brad Leithauser, read by Kevin R. Free

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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Interview with Joniece Abbott-Pratt: 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to tell listeners about narrating NIGHTCRAWLING. Leila Mottley’s powerful debut novel is one of AudioFile’s 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks for its immersive listening experience crafted beautifully by Joniece. Listen to hear about the emotional intimacy of Joniece’s performance, how she prepared to narrate the moving dialogue, and what’s stayed with her about NIGHTCRAWLING.

Read AudioFile’s review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks:

THE ANGEL OF ROME by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan

I WALK BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS by T.C. Boyle, read by T.C. Boyle, Cheryl Smith, Jason Culp, Derek Perkins, Jeremy Arthur, Stephen Mendel, Johnathan McClain, Ewan Chung, Pete Simonelli, David de Vries, Nan McNamara, Rex Anderson

JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang, read by Catherine Ho

THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell, read by Genevieve Gaunt, Maggie O'Farrell [Afterword]

NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub, read by Marin Ireland

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of DEATH TO DECONSTRUCTION: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion by Joshua S. Porter. Available everywhere.

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AudioFile’s 2022 Best Audiobooks!

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten joins host Jo Reed to talk about the 2022 Best Audiobooks — listen to hear about how these audiobooks were chosen out of the thousands reviewed this year, to learn about Robin’s favorites from the list, and to find out about upcoming interviews with narrator’s of some of this year’s honored titles. Jo and Robin also share the list of 2022 Best Memoirs, including some big names in audiobooks this year.

AudioFile’s 2022 Best Memoir Audiobooks:

FINDING ME by Viola Davis, read by Viola Davis

I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT by Harvey Fierstein, read by Harvey Fierstein

IN LOVE by Amy Bloom, read by Amy Bloom

SOLITO by Javier Zamora, read by Javier Zamora

WAKE by Rebecca Hall, Tyler English-Beckwith, read by DeWanda Wise, Chanté Adams, Jerrie Johnson, Bahni Turpin, and a Full Cast

WOMAN WITHOUT SHAME by Sandra Cisneros, read by Sandra Cisneros

For the full list of 2022 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

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HAVE I TOLD YOU THIS ALREADY? by Lauren Graham, read by Lauren Graham

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

It’s a delight to listen to warm and witty actor Lauren Graham, of “Gilmore Girls” and “Parenthood,” share her insights and reminiscences of her family and professional life in her second memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this collection of essays about little things, told in her natural and engaging voice. Humor infuses the entire audiobook, adding a light counterpoint to Graham’s practical and adaptable nature.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry, read by Matthew Perry

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrating his memoir, actor Matthew Perry sounds like his beloved Chandler character, but with far less enunciation. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Perry’s story detailing his lifetime of struggles with addiction, including while playing his iconic role on “Friends.” Listeners can hear how tough life has been on his body, but he comes across as a generous person hoping to share what has plagued him with the intent to help others. Listen for insight into his personal journey.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to The Maze by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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THE LIGHT WE CARRY by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Michelle Obama performs the follow-up to her bestselling memoir, BECOMING, giving listeners another peek behind the curtain into her life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss getting to hear from Obama as she inspires listeners to become their best selves. Obama tells deeply personal stories to show listeners how she overcame obstacles and gives insights into how she and her family weathered the pandemic. Her voice is warm and inviting as she shares words of encouragement that will help listeners feel hopeful and ready to go out and face our chaotic world. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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NEWSROOM CONFIDENTIAL by Margaret Sullivan, read by Lisa Flanagan, Margaret Sullivan [Intro.]

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Lisa Flanagan narrates journalist Margaret Sullivan’s memoir/manifesto authoritatively. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Flanagan’s serious narration that fits the story of a journalist whose career has included running a newsroom, being the public editor at the New York Times, and her recent stint at the Washington Post. Flanagan captures Sullivan’s spirited point of view—she’s enthralled with her calling and appalled at the state of the media. It should be required listening for all who follow the calling of journalism.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to The Maze by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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THE PHILOSOPHY OF MODERN SONG by Bob Dylan, read by Bob Dylan, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi, John Goodman, Oscar Isaac, Helen Mirren, Rita Moreno, Sissy Spacek, Alfre Woodard, Jeffrey Wright, Renée Zellweger

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Bob Dylan’s momentous work takes listeners deep inside the emotional narratives and cultural ethos behind 60 pop songs from the past seven decades. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Dylan’s raspy and compelling narration, as well as the all-star cast called upon to voice his essays. Almost as one voice, the narrators create a flow of energy that adds immeasurably to the impact of Dylan’s poetic writing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to Going Rogue by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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THE SKI JUMPERS by Peter Geye, read by Robert Fass

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

As Robert Fass narrates this wintry audiobook, he invigorates the characters through intelligent pacing and a fine storyteller’s tone and empathy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Peter Geye’s audiobook that gives the listener the inside scoop on ski jumping, a little known sport, and tells a fascinating family story as well. The most impressive passages capture the exquisite sport of flying over snow, lyrically described by the author, who is a ski jumper himself. Fass creates an immersive listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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40 by Alan Heathcock, read by Julia Atwood

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The lovely and engaging voice of Julia Atwood gives protagonist Mazzy Goodwin satisfying emotion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Alan Heathcock’s dystopian fantasy of a climate catastrophe. Mazzy is a soldier, and Atwood’s cadence subtly moves the suspenseful action of the story forward. Heathcock depicts an America in crisis—political, environmental, and religious—and Atwood delivers it all compellingly.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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THE PASSENGER by Cormac McCarthy, read by MacLeod Andrews, Julia Whelan

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed about Cormac McCarthy’s newest audiobook, performed superbly by MacLeod Andrews and Julia Whelan. It’s a braided tale of loss, hopeless love, and social collapse. Both narrators plumb the depths of the wounded siblings Bobby and Alicia Western, who are lost souls in this excursion into the dark, soul-depleting demimonde of Cormac McCarthy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON by Ryan Lee Wong, read by Scott Takeda

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Scott Takeda gives an engaging performance of Ryan Lee Wong’s thought-provoking debut novel. AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester tells host Jo Reed how Takeda’s performance had her hooked. After a Black man is killed at the hands of an Asian American police officer, 21-year-old Reed decides to drop out of college and devote himself to activism full time. But through a series of conversations, he begins to rethink his future. Takeda takes on this novel of ideas, embodying each character’s unique dialogue.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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THE FURROWS by Namwali Serpell, read by Kristen Ariza, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Dion Graham

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Three narrators voice a compelling audiobook on grief and identity by Namwali Serpell. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story of a family and their great loss. When Cassandra was twelve and her younger brother Wayne was seven, Wayne was lost, and his body was never recovered. She spends years missing him—and then a man claiming to be him appears. Kristen Ariza performs Cassandra with an ethereal quality, emphasizing the dreamlike storyline that will keep listeners uncertain about what is the truth. Narrator Dion Graham performs from an adult Wayne’s perspective, while Ryan Vincent Anderson performs from a third character’s perspective. The narrators work together to keep listeners on their toes and wondering, what happened to Wayne?

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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THE HAUNTING OF HAJJI HOTAK AND OTHER STORIES by Jamil Jan Kochai, read by Peter Ganim, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Fajer Al-Kaisi

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Peter Ganim, Suehyla El-Attar Young, and Fajer Al-Kaisi narrate a collection of short stories that examine the impact of America’s war on terror on Afghans and Afghan Americans. Jamil Jan Kochai’s novel is a 2022 National Book Award finalist, and host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss the stories that at times contain elements of the fantastical and the absurd—along with insights into characters impacted by war.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Listen to The Maze by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu, read by Hua Hsu

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Hua Hsu performs his heartfelt memoir about his friendship with Kevin, a Japanese American man killed in a carjacking while they were in college. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss the incredible prose, and the distance Hsu puts between himself and his own story through his performance. In the rare moments his voice breaks with emotion, we can hear the tender man beneath, grieving for his lost friend.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to The Maze by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson, read by Jason Watkins

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Jason Watkins dazzles listeners with his performance of Kate Atkinson’s newest audiobook set in London during the Roaring Twenties. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook that’s perfect for fans of historical fiction. Watkins captures the mood of the novel, creating an atmosphere both humorous and sinister, perfect for the story of the queen of Soho nightlife, Nellie Coker, defending her empire from ruin.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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THE SANDMAN: ACT III by Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs, read by Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, K.J. Apa, Kat Dennings, Shruti Haasan, David Harewood, Regé-Jean Page, Kristen Schaal, Wil Wheaton, and a Full Cast

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Neil Gaiman’s enchanting narration and an incredible cast bring this acclaimed graphic novel series to life for listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this third SANDMAN installment, written by Gaiman and adapted by audio producer Dirk Maggs. Listeners are plunged into a fully realized world with dynamic sound effects, sweeping music, and impressive performances. James McAvoy returns to flawlessly portray Morpheus, the Lord of Dreams. In one overarching storyline, he and Delirium, wonderfully voiced by Kristen Schaal, search for their elusive brother. Listen and be swept along into the many stories of Dream and the Endless. The many episodes enlighten, amaze, or appall, but will undoubtedly entertain. Listen to Jo Reed’s conversation with Dirk Maggs on an earlier episode of our podcast.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Saeed Jones, read by Saeed Jones

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Saeed Jones, an award-winning poet, writes and speaks unapologetically and with purpose. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss hearing Jones read his poetry in this newest collection. ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD refers to past and present perils that include personal experiences, as well as iconic moments and figures who have shaped popular culture. He delves into grief after the loss of his mother ten years ago, the ongoing trauma of the pandemic and rampant violence, and the fight to experience joy through it all. As a whole, there is an apocalyptic sense that reminds the listener of the title — that he and we are alive and present at the end of the world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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NONA THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir, read by Moira Quirk

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Moira Quirk narrates this satisfyingly complex and enjoyably confusing third entry in Tamsyn Muir’s Locked Tomb series. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tries to explain the series to host Jo Reed, and maybe succeeds? In NONA THE NINTH, the world is ending, but all Nona wants to do is have her six-month birthday party with all of her favorite people (and dogs) in attendance. Quirk’s portrayal of Nona is utterly captivating. She woke up six months ago in a body that seems to belong to someone else, but is enthusiastic and delighted by almost everything she encounters. Quirk must use her skills as a narrator to suggest interpretations of events (many fairly disastrous) outside of Nona’s understanding, and her compelling and moving performance will please fans of the series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L. Polk, read by January LaVoy

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator January LaVoy’s captivating talents are on full display as she narrates a romantic, fantastical noir mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the joy of hearing January narrate ANY audiobook, especially one as enchanting as C.L. Polk’s newest fantasy. All Helen Brandt wants to do is wrap up an easy magical investigation and go out dancing with her girl in the few days she has left before her soul is claimed by a demon. But the case is more complicated than it seems on the surface, as is everything in this tightly written, beautifully narrated novella. LaVoy embodies each character with ease, including intimidatingly ferocious otherworldly beings. LaVoy will have listeners breathless as Helen fights for a future with her girl.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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A RESTLESS TRUTH by Freya Marske, read by Aysha Kala

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Aysha Kala delivers action and romance in this sequel to Freya Marske’s A MARVELLOUS LIGHT. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this thrilling tale set at sea. Determined and a touch chaotic, 19-year-old Maud Blyth doesn’t have magic, but she’s on a secret magical mission nonetheless. She’s undercover, accompanying the elderly Mrs. Navenby, who is in possession of a secret magical artifact, on a transatlantic crossing to England. When Mrs. Navenby is murdered, Maud must secure allies, find the killer—and figure out what that artifact is, and whether it’s been stolen. Kala ably provides accents for a ship full of characters, from upper to lower decks, and both sides of the Atlantic. Maud enlists the outrageous and captivating magical concert-hall performer Violet Debenham to help her solve the case. Trust and heat build between the two as danger and magic abound.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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LUNGFISH by Meghan Gilliss, read by Devon Sorvari

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Devon Sorvari gives a stunning performance of Meghan Gilliss’s timely and powerfully affecting audiobook about a young family in dire circumstances. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a novel told in a poetic style that builds tension around the delicacy of struggling and living on the edge. Tuck; her husband, Paul; and their young daughter, Agnes, squat in her late grandmother’s home on a remote Maine island. Paul is depleting the family’s meager funds, as he’s addicted to an herbal opiate, and the family receives little help. Sorvari wonderfully mines the resilience and bravery of the one-of-a-kind Tuck. This provocative and harrowing audiobook is essential listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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INSIDE VOICE by Lake Bell, read by Lake Bell et al.

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Actor, writer, and film director Lake Bell explores her obsession with voices in this direct-to-audio book. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Bell’s unusual and fascinating audiobook that dives into recognizable voices, along with the interpretation and bias of voices and what they reveal about identity. She considers matters anatomical, social, political, and historical as they relate to people’s voices, includes interviews with experts, and conducts experiments on bias. Without being scholarly, this listening experience offers many revelations and suggests further questions.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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MAKING A SCENE by Constance Wu, read by Constance Wu

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Constance Wu, star of CRAZY RICH ASIANS and “Fresh Off the Boat,” moves listeners with her narration of her raw memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this candid celebrity memoir. Wu tells how she was raised to suppress her emotions and avoid making a scene, and she reflects on various memorable moments in her life and their impact on her as a person. She shares intimate details of her experiences of sexual assault and harassment, and sheds light on her mental health struggles. Poignant and relatable.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to GOING ROGUE by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King today.

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A GIRLHOOD by Carolyn Hays, read by Erin Bennett

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Erin Bennett confidently delivers this compelling memoir, presented as a mother’s love letter to her teenage transgender daughter. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story that seamlessly interweaves family experiences with the history and struggles of transgender people. The author, writing under a pseudonym, recounts the upheaval of their life when threatened by their state’s Department of Children and Families, their difficulties finding a welcoming place to live, and parenting challenges that arise. With deliberate pacing and a clear, assertive voice, Bennett captures the author’s fierce love for her daughter and fervent advocacy for the transgender community.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Simon & Schuster Audio. Listen to THE MAZE by Nelson DeMille, read by Scott Brick today.

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NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC by Kevin Wilson, read by Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Wilson [Note]

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Ginnifer Goodwin expertly matches author Kevin Wilson’s intensity in his singular novel, which delves into the depths of friendship and art. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook that is perfect for anyone who has felt like an outsider and explored their own creative voice to escape the boredom of small-town life. When Frankie receives a phone call threatening to unravel a decades-old secret, she flashes back to the summer she was a smart, introverted girl of 16. That was when she met Zeke, and together they secretly created a work of art to wake up their Tennessee town. A listen to savor.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE AUDIO, dedicated to producing top-quality fiction and nonfiction audiobooks written and read by the best in the business. Visit penguinrandomhouseaudio.com/audiofile now to start listening.

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THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell, read by Genevieve Gaunt, Maggie O'Farrell [Afterword]

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Three talented women—narrator, author, and protagonist—combine forces for this gripping historical novel set in Renaissance Italy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this Earphones Award-winning historical audiobook about Lucrezia de’ Medici of Florence. Lucrezia married Duke Alfonso d’Este of Ferrara in 1559, when she was 15 years old. Genevieve Gaunt’s captivating performance illuminates the suspenseful tale like gold leaf on a beautiful manuscript. Author Maggie O’Farrell, author of the award-winning HAMNET, delivers her afterword explaining her novelistic modifications to the few available historical facts.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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DEATH IN DISGUISE by Caroline Graham, read by John Hopkins

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Inspector Barnaby and his team are called out to a cultic commune to determine the cause of a series of brutal murders in this third installment of Midsomer Murders, narrated exquisitely by John Hopkins. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss what it’s like to hear Hopkins voice all of the varied characters in this mystery. Listeners will enjoy this excellent, complex cozy mystery as they discover clues along with DCI Barnaby.

John Hopkins recently joined an AudioFile webinar, where he discussed narrating the Midsomer Murder mysteries and his time on the popular television series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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THE STOLEN YEAR by Anya Kamenetz, read by Anya Kamenetz

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Anya Kamenetz’s narration enlightens nonfiction elements and hard-hitting stories of school closures’s impact on children. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss her reporting on the school closings that started in America at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that she narrates with the directness and intensity of a radio reporter (which she is). For many children, school is a critical social safety net, and Kamenetz shares her perspective on education struggles before, during, and after COVID closures.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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BACK TO THE GARDEN by Laurie R. King, read by Vivienne Leheny

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Vivienne Leheny’s steady delivery and warm tone welcome listeners into Laurie R. King’s contemporary mystery set in California. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to another mystery from Laurie R. King. Raquel Laing, who works on cold cases for the police department, investigates a corpse found on the grounds of the Gardener Estate Museum. When the action explodes, Leheny delivers a satisfying burst of frenzy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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HELL AND BACK by Craig Johnson, read by George Guidall

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator George Guidall compellingly narrates Craig Johnson’s latest Longmire mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this long-running series, which Guidall has voiced from the very beginning. Walt Longmire awakens in the street in the middle of a blizzard, remembering nothing of his past. Now he has to piece together who he is, and why he’s in Fort Pratt, Montana, site of an infamous Native residential school that had devastating impacts. Guidall’s grizzled voice fully embodies Longmire’s struggle to make sense of his situation.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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MAPS OF OUR SPECTACULAR BODIES by Maddie Mortimer, read by Tamsin Greig, Lydia Wilson

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Lydia Wilson and Tamsin Greig deliver complimentary performances to tell the story of Lia, a British woman whose cancer has just come out of remission. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Maddie Mortimer’s novel, which follows Lia as she faces what could be her final months of life. Wilson captures Lia’s perspective with a reflective performance, while Greig voices Lia’s cancer, perfectly capturing the disease’s wry narrative voice as it remarks on the changes in Lia’s body. Their performances work in harmony, giving listeners an emotionally intimate listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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THE WOMEN COULD FLY by Megan Giddings, read by Angel Pean

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Angel Pean delivers a thrilling performance of a story set in a dystopian alternative future. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this suspenseful story, where unmarried women must register with the government at age 28 and are assumed to be witches until they marry. Protagonist Jo is faced with even more suspicion as a Black woman, and as her 28th birthday looms, she learns that her mother left her something in her will — but she must travel far to claim it. Pean skillfully captures the suspenseful story and creates the perfect chilling mood.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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SWEET, SOFT, PLENTY RHYTHM by Laura Warrell, read by Nicole Lewis

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Nicole Lewis performs a chorus of voices in this multiperspective story that centers around Circus, a middle-aged jazz musician who has just left his pregnant girlfriend. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Lewis’s skill at creating emotional intimacy for each of the characters. The novel jumps between perspectives, from Circus himself to the many women in his life, including his ex-wife, his daughter, and a seemingly endless string of hookups. With her heartfelt narration, Lewis ensures that listeners will remember these characters long after their story ends.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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YEAR OF THE TIGER by Alice Wong, read by Nancy Wu

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Nancy Wu performs this memoir from disability rights activist Alice Wong. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Wu’s narration, which includes descriptions of photos and illustrations, making the audiobook all the more accessible for listeners. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Wong has spent her life advocating for equal access, for herself and for other disabled people. Wong describes life before and after the Americans with Disabilities Act, and how far we still have to go.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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PEOPLE PERSON by Candice Carty-Williams, read by Danielle Vitalis

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Danielle Vitalis delivers a stunning performance in this family drama set in London that will have listeners hanging on every word. AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester tells host Jo Reed about Vitalis’s excellent performance of Candice Carty-Williams’s sophomore novel. Cyril Pennington’s five children barely know each other, but when Dimple seems to have accidentally killed her boyfriend in self defense, all four of her half siblings show up to help. With such an excellent, incredibly funny story and a stellar performance from Vitalis, this audiobook is a definite must-listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Listen to AudioFile’s fifth season of Audiobook Break, featuring Bram Stoker’s DRACULA, read by Gildart Jackson.

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A PLACE IN THE WORLD by Frances Mayes, read by Cassandra Campbell

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Cassandra Campbell’s melodious tone and deliberately paced delivery seem created for the figurative language and poetic lilt of this audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff talk about catching up with Frances Mayes, who first delighted readers with her tales of making a home in Italy in UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN. Mayes’s memories range from her southern roots to her passion for restoration, and an appreciation of her Italian hill town where her now-famed villa sits. Campbell’s eloquent intonation suits Mayes’s musings on place, home, and family.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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OUT OF EGYPT by André Aciman, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini immerses listeners in a lost world with André Aciman’s 1996 memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Ballerini brings this memoir of Aciman’s boyhood to life. The author longs for his home in cosmopolitan Alexandria, Egypt, and Ballerini masterfully portrays the characters, especially his quirky grandmothers, and ensures the other members of his lively Sephardic Jewish family come through vividly. A classic story of a family who lost everything in the fraught years after 1956, when President Nasser expelled English and French nationals and Jews from their homes in Egypt.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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I WALK BETWEEN THE RAINDROPS by T.C. Boyle, read by T.C. Boyle, Cheryl Smith, Jason Culp, Derek Perkins, Jeremy Arthur, Stephen Mendel, Johnathan McClain, Ewan Chung, Pete Simonelli, David de Vries, Nan McNamara, Rex Anderson

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This audiobook read by the author and eleven other narrators offer a cornucopia of T.C. Boyle’s vivid imaginings. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the stories in the collection, including dark fantasies and a haunting story of a couple quarantining on a luxury cruise ship in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boyle’s poignant stories and the skilled narrations create a satisfying listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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YESTERDAY'S SPY by Tom Bradby, read by George Weightman

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

British actor and narrator George Weightman gives Tom Bradby’s tale of espionage the gravitas and polish it deserves. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the thriller set in 1953 Iran, poised on the CIA backed overthrow of Mossadegh by the Shah’s henchmen, with flashbacks to pre-WWII Germany and post-war England and Yugoslavia. Harry Tower, the anti-hero of the novel, has to travel to Tehran to search for his journalist son, who has gone missing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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FEN, BOG & SWAMP by Annie Proulx, read by Gabra Zackman

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Gabra Zackman’s intelligent performance of Annie Proulx’s eloquent nonfiction audiobook encourages listeners to absorb its powerful message. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this audiobook that blends memoir, speculation, and a warning about impacts on the environment. Listeners learn much from Proulx’s longtime focus on the wetter world. Her prose sparkles and is enlivened by stories, quotations, and memories, and Zackman narrates with exquisite timing and thoughtful pacing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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WITCHLINGS by Claribel A. Ortega, read by Cyrina Fiallo

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Cyrina Fiallo shines as the voice of the brave little witch Seven Salazar in Claribel A. Ortega’s charming children’s fantasy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this adventurous series opener full of bravery and magic for kids. Turning 12 makes Seven Salazar eligible to join a coven during her town’s Black Moon Ceremony, but she’s shocked when she isn’t sorted into one of the five covens. To keep their magic, Seven and her fellow Spares, Thorn and Valley, must perform an impossible task and defeat the deadly Nightbeast—but if they fail, they will be turned into toads forever. Young listeners will be thrilled to explore this new magical world full of witches, toad racing, cucos, and wild adventures.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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HIGH TIMES IN THE LOW PARLIAMENT by Kelly Robson, read by Amy Scanlon

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kelly Robson’s fantastical take on Brexit. Narrator Amy Scanlon’s British intonations and wry tone suit the delightfully charming, lazy, and witty scribe Lana Baker, who finds herself stuck among the fairies and monotony of life in the Low Parliament. There she’s made to transcribe endless angry debates that inevitably end up in hung votes—despite the threat of death by fairy-induced flood if members can’t come to agreement. Scanlon’s breathy delivery adds to Robson’s wonderful world-building in this utterly fun political satire. Scanlon delights listeners as Lana works to save the humans—while also wooing a beautiful Deputy, getting high, and endlessly teasing her cantankerous fairy friend, Bugbite.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY by Megan Bannen, read by Michael Gallagher, Rachanee Lumayno

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Michael Gallagher and Rachanee Lumayno bring life to a whimsical fantasy romance between a demigod zombie-hunting marshal and the beautiful undertaker who infuriates him. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss an audiobook full of alarming magic that also makes for excellent cozy listening. Lumayno’s compassionate narration of Mercy helps listeners understand her growing appreciation for her solemn task of preparing the dead and her determination to keep her family business afloat. Gallagher’s steady pace and gravelly voice convey the loneliness of Hart, in the wilderness and on the hunt for dangerous drudges. When Hart and Mercy strike up an anonymous correspondence by magical post, listeners will grin as the characters deliver increasingly heartfelt letters to one another.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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MR. PERFECT ON PAPER by Jean Meltzer, read by Dara Rosenberg

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dara Rosenberg gives a magnificent performance of this hilarious and heartwarming rom-com. Host Jo Reed and and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Jean Meltzer’s romance set during the whirlwind months from the High Holidays all the way to Hanukkah. Dara Rabinowitz, a 30-something developer of a Jewish matchmaking app, appears on a television show hosted by her favorite anchor, Christopher Steadfast. Dara’s matchmaking grandmother, Bubbe Miriam, joins the show and shares Dara’s tongue-in-cheek list of qualities in her perfect Jewish husband-to-be. Dara reluctantly agrees to be filmed on a series of dates, each more disastrous than the next, while she struggles with anxiety — and her growing feelings for Chris. Rosenberg expresses the wit, charm, and sensibility of every character beautifully.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer, read by Robert Petkoff

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Robert Petkoff clearly enjoys himself in recounting the insightful and humorous misadventures of hapless gay minor novelist Arthur Less, first encountered in Andrew Sean Greer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, LESS. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the fun of getting back on the road with Arthur, this time traveling across the United States on a literary tour to earn desperately needed cash. Arthur’s partner, Freddy, tells Arthur’s tale with wry amusement. Petkoff creates a host of vocally distinct characters with accents and personalities as broad as the country. Through his adventures, the listener begins to understand the kindhearted Arthur and his quest for certainty.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

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THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD by Tiffany D. Jackson, read by JD Jackson, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Joy Nash, Christopher Salazar, Karen Malina White

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Versatile narrators convey interwoven characters’ perspectives in Tiffany D. Jackson’s YA retelling of CARRIE, made more horrific by its themes of racism. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a biracial teen, Maddy, who has been forced by her father to hide her identity. Karen Malina White narrates her perspective with full angry verve as she is bullied at school—and her secret psychic powers explode on prom night. Christopher Salazar and Sarah Mollo-Christensen portray two television reporters tracking what happened on prom night, while JD Jackson and Joy Nash convey the conflicting personalities of classmates. Collectively, the narrators ensure the story is clear and captivating.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. The first volume of Little Women was published on this day in 1868. Closely based on Louisa May Alcott’s own experience of family life, Little Women has never lost its extraordinary power to move and delight: from the heartrending story of gentle Beth to the humorous adventures of tomboyish Jo, and Meg’s vain attempts to cut a fashionable figure in ‘society’. Liza Ross narrates this enduringly popular tale.

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THE PALLBEARERS CLUB by Paul Tremblay, read by Graham Halstead, Xe Sands, Elizabeth Wiley

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Paul Tremblay’s psychological thriller gives its narrators the perfect opportunity to exercise their considerable dramatic skills. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this horror story that opens in 1980s New England. Graham Halstead portrays Art Barbara, founder of the Pallbearers Club, while his sultry friend Mercy is portrayed by Xe Sands. Mercy’s creepy penchant for taking photos of the dead in their caskets foreshadows possible vampirism to come. The narrators create a crescendo of horror, humor, and decadence.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Dramatic, fast-moving and brutal, George Gissing’s highly regarded early novel The Nether World lays bare the reality of urban poverty in 1870s London. Old Michael Snowdon returns to the city with an inheritance that he determines should go towards helping the poor – but goodness and charity are not to play a part here. Everyone has an agenda, and scheming spreads through the story like a disease. Nicholas Boulton reads this enthralling story.

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BAD CITY by Paul Pringle, read by Robert Petkoff

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Robert Petkoff is especially effective narrating Paul Pringle’s scathing takedown of the Los Angeles Times and the University of Southern California. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this investigation into the overdose death of Sarah Warren, who was entangled with the Dean of the Keck School of Medicine, Carmen Puliafito. His own editors at the Times didn’t want him to run afoul of the University, and with Petkoff at the helm this no-holds-barred account makes for dramatic listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Lucy Scott narrates Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim. Lucy Entwhistle and Everard Wemyss, both recovering from recent unhappiness, meet and quickly fall in love. However, over their new-found bliss is the spectre of Vera, Wemyss’s first wife who died in mysterious circumstances. After their wedding the couple return home and Lucy really does begin to be troubled by what happened to Vera...

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I'M GLAD MY MOM DIED by Jennette McCurdy, read by Jennette McCurdy

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Jeannette McCurdy’s best-selling new memoir about her childhood acting and her abusive mother. McCurdy uses a dynamic voice for her mother’s parts and a flat one for much of her own dialogue. Known for her slapstick comedy on Nickelodeon, McCurdy shares her dark adolescence out of the limelight. Years after her mother’s death, she is now coming to terms with the abuse she endured.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schutser Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Russell Bentley and Ben Onwukwe read The Letters of Pliny the Younger. Written between AD 97 and 112, the extant letters give us a unique insight into Imperial Rome under the early Antonine emperors. Organised into 10 books, the letters reflect a wide range of topics, mirroring Pliny’s own public and private interests. Among many other subjects, the letters also include an eye-witness account of the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79.

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FAIRY TALE by Stephen King, read by Seth Numrich, Stephen King

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Seth Numrich’s narration of this latest Stephen King novel is moving and frightening in equal measure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this fantasy novel involving a portal to a dying world and a mission to save it. Seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade befriends a reclusive curmudgeon, Howard Bowdich, walking his dog and being a good neighbor. When Bowdich dies, Charlie inherits his house and dog—and a cassette tape voiced by King with surprising information for Charlie. Listeners will be drawn into this audiobook by Numrich’s intimate narration, which is like hearing Charlie himself.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Nicholas Boulton brings us The White Guard by Mikhail Bulgakov. In the Ukrainian capital Kiev, during the harsh and chaotic winter of 1918–19, life has become frightening and fragile. But the bleakness is offset by the resilience of the human spirit, and of the qualities of loyalty and principle – all embodied by the Turbin family.

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SHUTTER by Ramona Emerson, read by Charley Flyte

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Oglala Lakota and Mohawk actress Charley Flyte performs this supernatural mystery novel with the perfect balance of intrigue and suspense. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s contributor Kendra Winchester discuss author Ramona Emerson’s debut novel that makes for perfect creepy fall listening. Rita Todacheene is one of the best forensic photographers working for the Albuquerque police department. But she has a secret: She can see ghosts, giving her unique insights into the cases. Flyte perfectly captures Rita’s horror as she is terrorized by ghosts, and her narration creates an emotional intimacy between characters.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. This week is Banned Books Week. Maxine Peake narrates D.H. Lawrence’s famous story about Lady Chatterley and her love-affair with the gamekeeper, Mellors. Banned for over 30 years for the explicit nature of its language and descriptions of sex, Lady Chatterley’s Lover also exposes the dehumanisation of the mechanical age, and underlines the profound power of tenderness.

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GODS OF WANT by K-Ming Chang, read by Catherine Ho, Natalie Naudus, Elaine Wang, Nancy Wu, Annie Q

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

With its stellar ensemble of narrators, this surreal short story collection creates an immersive listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s contributor Kendra Winchester discuss K-Ming Chang’s collection of short stories, narrated by Catherine Ho, Natalie Naudus, Elaine Wang, Nancy Wu, and Annie Q. The narrators make each story shine, performing works featuring a chorus of dead cousins, a woman trying to survive a catastrophic flood, and the delight of two girls falling in love. The stories revel in the unexpected, delightfully surprising listeners at every turn. Together, the narrators make the perfect cast for the audiobook.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. This week is Banned Books Week. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is an extraordinary tale of imagination. A disturbing allegory about a young man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect, The Metamorphosis was banned by the Soviet Union for being decadent and despairing. AudioFile said: ‘This unforgettable audio movie is vivid and disturbing, shot through with black humour.’ Listen to Martin Jarvis’s Earphones Award-winning performance.

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NIGHTCRAWLING by Leila Mottley, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

From the audiobook’s opening line, Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s narration creates an immersive listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this impressive debut novel from Leila Mottley. Abbott-Pratt perfectly embodies the first-person perspective of Kiara, a high school dropout living with her older brother. Their father is dead, and their mother is gone, so they only have each other. With Abbott-Pratt’s empathetic understanding of the characters, she creates one of the most moving and emotionally intimate audiobooks of the year.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. This week is Banned Books Week. Banned for challenging the orthodoxies of the day with humour and sly wit, Voltaire’s Candide traces the fortunes of its titular character, a staunch optimist who experiences a series of hardships. Candide was Voltaire’s riposte to the philosophy of Rousseau and others, which opines that all that happens in the world is for the best. Neville Jason reads this razor-sharp satire.

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MAN O' WAR by Cory McCarthy, read by E.R. Fightmaster

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

E.R. Fightmaster’s performance is an example of the unique magic that happens when a great narrator is paired with the perfect book. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Kendra Winchester discuss Cory McCarthy’s young adult novel chronicling a nonbinary athlete’s coming of age. River McIntyre spends every spare moment practicing for the swim team as a means to escape their internal struggle with gender identity — but when they meet and fall in love with another nonbinary teen, they begin to imagine a better future for themself. Fightmaster expertly captures River’s intense internal conflict with their gender and queer identity, voicing the complex emotional depth of River’s experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. This week is Banned Books Week. Controversial for its depiction of adultery and redemption, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter has been challenged as recently as 1977. It is one of the great classics of American literature. Set in the harsh Puritan environment of 17th-century Boston, it describes the plight of Hester Prynne, an independent-minded woman who stands alone against society. Having given birth to a child after an illicit affair, she refuses to name the father and is forced to wear the letter ‘A’, for Adulteress, embroidered on her dress. Listen to Adam Sims’s Earphones Award-winning performance.

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HAVEN by Emma Donoghue, read by Aidan Kelly

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s new contributor Kendra Winchester discuss a story of survival in 7th-century Ireland by Emma Donoghue. Aidan Kelly’s performance expresses the complex emotional experiences of three monks who are seeking solitude on a deserted island. This historical fiction follows their story as they feel called by God to make a spiritual haven apart from the temptations of the world. Kelly’s rich Irish accent takes listeners to another place and time, and his narration perfectly captures the rising tension. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. This week is Banned Books Week. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s poignant exploration of the true depths of human ambition has had a profound effect on readers since its conception in 1816, and has been banned on many occasions for its macabre subject matter. Daniel Philpott, Roger May and Jonathan Oliver read the tale of scientist Victor Frankenstein, who forms a creature from the body parts of corpses, thus shattering the perceived limits of scientific understanding.

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PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN by Daniel Silva, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini returns to perform the 22nd addition to the Gabriel Allon series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Daniel Silva’s newest mystery novel. Former Israeli spymaster Gabriel Allon is now retired in Venice, but when his friend needs his help, his newest escapade begins. Ballerini demonstrates his skill with multiple accents and languages, including Italian, and draws listeners into a globe-trotting tale of art forgery.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Between 1821 and 1826, the prolific writer and journalist William Cobbett travelled the countryside of the South of England on foot and horseback. Rural Rides is a fascinating account of his journeys, and depicts a way of life in transition, juxtaposing lyrical descriptions of the countryside with criticism of the poverty of agricultural workers. Above all, Rural Rides celebrates agrarian England. It is read by Peter Wickham.

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BAD ACTORS by Mick Herron, read by Gerard Doyle

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Gerard Doyle narrates this latest installment in the Slough House series as the group of screw-up spies attempt to prevent a scandal. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Doyle’s narration of this 8th installment in Herron’s series. The disappearance of a think-tank specialist has MI5 racing to find her. Doyle’s narration matches Herron’s satirical spy thriller with aplomb. Ideal for fans and newcomers alike—and those who enjoy the Slow Horses television series. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Georgina Sutton gives a vivid and captivating reading of Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu. The sinister Madame de Rougierre is employed as governess to the young Maud Ruthven, bringing with her a dark cloud of impending doom that hangs over the whole household. The governess eventually leaves, in possession of a dark secret, but that is not the end of her, much to Maud’s dismay… Occupying the world of spirits, kidnapping and old secrets, Le Fanu’s sensation novel is a chilling and ground-breaking psychological thriller.

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LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI by Rinker Buck, read by Jason Culp

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to Jason Culp narrating this tale of an unusual journey. Flatboats were once the most common craft on America’s rivers, but when Rinker Buck took his down the Monongahela, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans in 2016—as he recounts in this audiobook—it was an object of considerable curiosity. Culp narrates smoothly as Buck follows the boat downriver, and capably narrates the author’s meditations on history, navigation, and human nature.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Dating from the third century AD, Artemidorus’ The Interpretation of Dreams is the only dream-book from Graeco-Roman antiquity that has survived intact. It represents the most influential pre-Freudian treatment of dreams and the theory of their interpretation. It presents a rich picture of the Graeco-Roman mind, social and moral values, sexual norms, and the hopes and fears of ordinary people in a busy Greek city. David Timson reads Martin Hammond’s recent translation.

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THE RISING TIDE by Ann Cleeves, read by Janine Birkett

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Janine Birkett’s captivating narration does justice to Ann Cleeves’s masterful storytelling in this latest installment of her Vera Stanhope mystery series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the surprises to be found in this series, much loved by readers and television viewers alike. Detective Inspector Stanhope and her team arrive at Northumberland’s Holy Island in response to an apparent suicide. When the death proves to be a murder, Vera must unravel the stories of the victim’s friends, who are all hiding secrets and sins from the past.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. The much-loved Bill Homewood brings us The Song of Roland, a magnificent tale of faith, honour, courage and treachery. It is the year 778. The mighty French army confronts Saracen forces in the bloody Battle of Roncevaux Pass. We follow the emperor’s hot-headed nephew Roland into battle. We see both armour and bodies split by the blows of lances and swords, horses fall, and the heroic brotherhood of soldiery tested to its limit. The story builds to a nail-biting climax – when a single trumpeting blast on an elephant’s horn changes the course of history.

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PROPERTIES OF THIRST by Marianne Wiggins, read by Stephen Graybill, Gabra Zackman

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this engrossing and majestic historical fiction audiobook set in California during WWII, when Japanese Americans were forcefully interred by the U.S. Government. It is an ambitious saga of family, romance, and grief poignantly narrated by Gabra Zackman and Stephen Graybill. It is a story of drought and water rights, a love story that revolves around food, and an examination of the devastating impact of the building of the Manzanar internment camp.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Listen to AudioFile’s fourth season of Audiobook Break, featuring the Japanese American Civil Liberties Collection.

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Stendhal’s The Charterhouse of Parma is a twisting tale of passion and intrigue following the adventures of Fabrizio del Dongo, a young Italian nobleman who dreams of glory on the battlefields of Europe and finds himself fighting alongside Napoleon at Waterloo. After returning home, Fabrizio becomes entangled in Machiavellian scheming, an ill-advised romance, and a fatal duel that lands him in prison, where he begins a star-crossed love affair with the ethereal Clelia, the commandant’s daughter. Nicholas Boulton gives a powerful reading.

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AudioFile favorites: THE MAID by Nita Prose, read by Lauren Ambrose

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re reairing episodes featuring some of our favorite audiobooks we’ve covered on Behind the Mic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Nita Prose’s zinger of a mystery with many possible suspects. Narrator Lauren Ambrose performs this creatively crafted mystery featuring Molly, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel who discovers the body of a regular guest in his suite. Lauren Ambrose is exceptional at capturing this propulsive story, giving listeners a sense of all the details as well as the emotional cues that Molly doesn’t necessarily pick up on. All the clues in this murder point toward Molly — can she save herself by solving the case?

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Appearing in 1852, Basil was Wilkie Collins’s second published novel. Anticipating Collins’s later sensation novels, the plot involves betrayal, insanity and death, with a thrilling conclusion set among the cliffs and whirlpools near Land’s End. Basil is read by the prolific and popular narrator Nicholas Boulton.

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AudioFile Favorites: WILD SWAN by Patti Callahan, read by Cynthia Erivo

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re reairing episodes featuring some of our favorite audiobooks we’ve covered on Behind the Mic. Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Cynthia Erivo’s spectacular narration that gets the emotional tone of this story exactly right. She is nothing short of amazing as she narrates Patti Callahan’s historical novella about Florence Nightingale. Callahan examines a few years of the famous nurse’s life as she struggled with shedding Victorian expectations and fulfilling her calling to reform health care. The storytelling makes every detail and emotional point shine. Whether it’s the color of a dress or the disapproval from a royal minister, Erivo connects listeners to each scene. An exceptional listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Andrew Wincott narrates News from Nowhere. William Morris’s best-known prose work, News from Nowhere describes a humane socialist future as experienced by William Guest, who is transplanted there from the 19th century. Set in London and Oxfordshire, the novel takes place in 2090, over a century after a revolutionary upheaval. It remains a distinctive literary contribution to the concept of the utopian ideal.

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AudioFile Favorites: STUNTBOY, IN THE MEANTIME by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, and a full cast

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re reairing episodes featuring some of our favorite audiobooks we’ve covered on Behind the Mic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook from Jason Reynolds, whose funny, smart, and empathetic writing meets kids where they are. With endless energy, verve, and style, Guy Lockard is a total superstar narrating this middle-grade novel about Portico Reeves, aka Stuntboy, supported by a full cast and a dynamic production. Portico, voiced by Nile Bullock, loves living in his apartment building, but every time he catches his parents arguing, he feels “the frets.” So, he and his best friend Zola, voiced by Angel Pean, come up with his superhero alter ego who can help save his parents AND defeat their bully neighbor. A unique audio experience that made AudioFile’s list of 2021 Best Audiobooks!

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks.

Gertrude Stein’s pioneering triptych Three Lives portrays the lives of three working-class women in the fictional American town of Bridgepoint. A progenitor of the ‘stream of consciousness’ technique later adopted by Joyce and Woolf, Stein takes us into the minds of three distinct women, who are each trapped in their societal positions. Laurel Lefkow and Trei Taylor narrate their stories.

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AudioFile Favorites: THE CANDY HOUSE by Jennifer Egan, read by a Full Cast

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re reairing episodes featuring some of our favorite audiobooks we’ve covered on Behind the Mic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss this unusual and absorbing audiobook full of interwoven stories from Jennifer Egan. Each performance is exceptional. Michael Boatman narrates the opening chapter, capturing the interior life of the enigmatic Bix Boughton, who invents a world-altering technology central to the plot. The time-traveling chapters reprise some of the characters from Egan’s award-winning A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, but this novel has a wider timeframe, a greater trajectory, and a more complex plot.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Read by Andrew Wincott, Flaubert’s Three Tales is a collection of three compelling short stories about faith, loneliness and love. Elegant and bracing, it is a rich, stylistic showcase from the writer best known for the perennial favourite Madame Bovary.

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AudioFile favorites: LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam, read by Marin Ireland

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This week we’re reairing episodes featuring some of our favorite audiobooks we’ve covered on Behind the Mic. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed about the National Book Award finalist performed by one of her favorite narrators. Marin Ireland narrates Rumaan Alam’s stunning audiobook that explores race, class, family, and global catastrophe. A married couple and their children head to Long Island for a family vacation. However, the owners of their rental house arrive unexpectedly after fleeing a blackout, and the two families—one white and middle class, the other Black and wealthy—cohabitate and try to figure out what’s happened. Whether Ireland is focused on the character dynamics or omnisciently describing the terrifying events of the world at large, she delivers an unforgettable powerhouse of a performance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile’s Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Peter Wickham reads Critique of Pure Reason, Immanuel Kant’s hugely influential treatise on the nature of human reason. In this engaging recording, the ideas and arguments in the Critique are put forward with great clarity.

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TO FALL IN LOVE, DRINK THIS by Alice Feiring, read by Gabra Zackman

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how narrator Gabra Zackman has the rare ability to get inside the soul of her authors. She narrates Alice Feiring’s memoir with an understanding of its combination of confessional dips into the past and its compelling journeys into the wine world. The merging of the elaborately talented narrator with the irreverent but essential wine writer creates a remarkable listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Laurel Lefkow narrates The Custom of the Country, Edith Wharton’s dazzling novel about a determined social climber. Wharton contrasts the pecuniary motivation of the nouveau riche in America with European ideals of tradition, and through her array of characters and subtle insights into society, she delivers a novel every bit as immersive and entertaining as The Age of Innocence.

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THIS AMERICA OF OURS by Nate Schweber, read by Fred Sanders

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Fred Sanders’s narration of the under appreciated history of Bernard and Avis DeVoto. He delivers the story crisply and thoughtfully, and his clear tone and eloquent delivery give the audiobook authority. Author Schweber unearths the story of the courageous journalist/historian who fought for Western lands and freedom of speech. He adds the companion biographical history of DeVoto’s talented wife Avis, an editor. Together they fought the land grab of 200 million acres led by NV Senator Leo McCarran, and when Bernard worked to defeat the Echo Park Dam in Colorado, he ran afoul of Senator Joe McCarthy, who attacked him mercilessly. Both DeVotos left an indelible mark on our history.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Mariner Books.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Published in 1867, Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola is a gritty and thought-provoking novel of sexual compulsion and its consequences on the lives of four people and a tabby cat. AudioFile said: ‘Juliet Stevenson’s nuanced performance of this classic tale of obsession lures listeners into a nineteenth-century Parisian storefront, where lust and shadows lurk… Her vibrant alto pitch, crystalline enunciation, and expressive reading enliven Zola’s descriptive writing, sending listeners deep into Paris’s underworld.’

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THE LAST WHITE MAN by Mohsin Hamid, read by Mohsin Hamid

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Author Mohsin Hamid’s voice is pleasing and clear as he narrates this novel that functions both as a reflection and as a warning. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this Kafkaesque story. The plot is straightforward: A white man named Anders wakes one morning with brown skin. Hamid’s uninflected voice lets the story unfold without melodrama. When Anders’s transformation is repeated by more and more people, they become unrecognized objects of prejudice. This allegorical fiction is invigorated by Anders’s close relationship with his lover Ooma and their families.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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BITTER ORANGE TREE by Jokha Alharthi, Marilyn Booth [Trans.], read by Raghad Chaar

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Raghad Chaar’s performance of this audiobook is mesmerizing. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the music in Chaar’s voice as she narrates Jokha Alharthi’s nonlinear novel. Her delivery of the many Arabic words and passages intensifies it, and her deft pacing and cadence give form to the memories and experiences that create the plot. The novel ties together the past life of the solitary narrator, a student named Zuhoor, and the vivid remembrances of her grandmother, Beit Amin. The author, winner of the Man Booker Prize, writes lyrically about the lives of women and girls in traditional societies. The listener comes away bathed in the poetry.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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WE ARE THE MIDDLE OF FOREVER by Dahr Jamail, Stan Rushworth [Eds.], read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Shaun Taylor-Corbett’s decision to narrate these personal stories in a straightforward, thoughtful yet intimate manner enhances the testimonies of Native American attitudes on the climate crisis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this collection edited by Dahr Jamail and Stan Rushworth, which includes both criticism of the historical treatment of First Nations, and some optimism that our hyperactive, consumer-driven culture of the West can learn from tribal environmental knowledge (TEK) and the ways of earth stewardship from Indigenous peoples. Taylor-Corbett’s calm, conversational tone is attuned to the nuanced calls for action that the audiobook’s many contributors spell out. This audiobook provides hope and deserves a broad listening audience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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OSMO UNKNOWN AND THE EIGHTPENNY WOODS by Catherynne M. Valente, read by Heath Miller

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Heath Miller is entrancing in Catherynne M. Valente’s adventurous middle-grade fantasy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the lively and engaging story of 13-year-old Osmo, who longs for an interesting life out of Littlebridge, and finds it in unfortunate circumstances. Osmo now must enter the woods with unwilling companions—Bonk the Cross, a skadgebat (skunk-badger-wombat), and Nevermore, the pangirlin. Miller creates a fantastical array of character voices for each and every being, human and otherwise. Osmo’s voice is fittingly kind and soft-spoken as he ventures on his quest, while Bonk’s Scottish brogue and melodramatic crustiness is improbably endearing. Miller’s droll English accent expresses authority yet invites trust; the listener is willingly carried off to the fabled Eightpenny Woods. Excellent family listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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SISTERS MATSUMOTO by Philip Kan Gotanda, read by Keiko Agena, June Angela, Ron Bottitta, Kurt Kanazawa, Suzy Nakamura, Greg Watanabe, Ryun Yu

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

With poignant grace, Keiko Agena, June Angela, and Suzy Nakamura lead a stellar cast playing three Japanese American sisters finding hope, heartache, and hard-won humor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of a family’s return to their farm in California after four long years in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. Hoping to pick up where they left off, they discover that the farm is in shambles. Listeners hear the pressures of politics and the impacts of racism and violence and the ways the family moves forward. The performance is followed by an excellent panel discussion on the internment camps with actor George Takei, playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, and director Tim Dang.

Hear SISTERS MATSUMOTO and three more audio plays in the Japanese American Civil Liberties collection on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast, starting on September 13th.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by L.A. Theatre Works.

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THE ROMANCE RECIPE by Ruby Barrett, read by Chelsea Stephens, Natalie Naudus

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Chelsea Stephens and Natalie Naudus share the narration of Ruby Barrett’s captivating listen for romance fans and foodies alike. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this romance set in the cutthroat restaurant world. Stephens narrates as Sophie, a former reality show chef who wants to be appreciated for her cooking skills, not her 10 minutes of fame, and is hoping to explore her newly realized bisexuality after a devastating breakup. Naudus narrates as Amy, who is desperate to keep her struggling restaurant open and prove to herself—and her father—that she isn’t a failure. She also has a majorly inconvenient attraction to Sophie. There is a quiet intensity in both performances that helps listeners understand all that is at stake for both women, personally and professionally, and listeners will be thrilled to hear their journeys to happiness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

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HEARTBREAKER by Sarah MacLean, read by Mary Jane Wells

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Mary Jane Wells charms and delights as she narrates Sarah MacLean’s latest adventurous historical romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this fun and romantic story that has listeners racing along the countryside with the bold Adelaide Frampton and the staid Duke of Clayborn. Adelaide grew up among London’s most dangerous criminals, until she was rescued and drawn into the secretive world of the Hell’s Belles. Now she uses her unassuming demeanor, quick fingers, and fighting skills to right society’s wrongs. But she hasn’t escaped the notice of Clayborn, and when the two meet, sparks fly. Wells is excellent at narrating this romantic and thrilling listen, capturing the lively spirit of the unlikely pair.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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THE DAUGHTER OF DOCTOR MOREAU by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Gisela Chìpe

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Gisela Chìpe’s performance of Silva Moreno-Garcia’s audiobook is exceptionally touching. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this theatrical, action-filled retelling of H.G. Wells’s ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU, this time set in the Yucatán peninsula in the late 1800s. Dr. Moreau’s daughter Carlota grows up alongside his mysterious human-animal hybrids in their remote hacienda among lush jungles. She’s curious and intelligent, but hasn’t been told the whole story about her father’s work and intentions for the hybrids. Listeners hear the perspective of Carlota, along with the hacienda’s British overseer Montgomery, and Chìpe differentiates between the characters beautifully, along with the many others, both human and not. It’s an intense and engaging tale that combines science fiction with a coming-of-age story in a unique and captivating setting.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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INVISIBLE THINGS by Mat Johnson, read by Nicole Lewis

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Mat Johnson’s allegorical novel gives Nicole Lewis the opportunity to shine in her portrayal of Nalini, a sociologist traveling to a remote moon. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this science fiction tale set on one of Jupiter’s moons. Nalini and a ship of astronauts are abducted by “invisible things” and transported to New Roanoke, a community closely watched in a terrarium. Lewis’s warm voice and dexterity with accents make each politician and community member unique. Listeners will be caught up in this mesmerizing story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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NARRATOR by Landon Beach, read by Scott Brick

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Landon Beach has provided audiobook lovers with a tribute to narrators wrapped in a psychological thriller and delivered with deep emotion and intensity by Scott Brick. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb have fun talking about this thriller that provides an intimate view into the mindset, challenges, and joys experienced by narrators. Brick’s dramatic delivery draws listeners into the life of Shawn Frost, a failing playwright who now narrates award-winning audiobooks—and is kidnapped. A thrilling invitation for listeners to step into the recording booth.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Landon Beach.

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THE IT GIRL by Ruth Ware, read by Imogen Church

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Imogen Church adeptly plays all of the characters in this latest mystery from Ruth Ware. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of Hannah, bookstore owner and soon-to-be mother, who is suddenly revisiting shocking events of her past in Oxford. Hannah’s roommate, April, was the “it girl” who drew Hannah into her orbit—and who was murdered. When a journalist grows suspicious that the man convicted of the murder was actually innocent, Hannah becomes determined to discover the truth. Church stays engaged as she takes listeners into the past to discover what really happened in Oxford 10 years earlier.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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NSFW by Isabel Kaplan, read by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In Isabel Kaplan’s timely audiobook, an unnamed protagonist encountered misogyny at her job as an assistant at a Hollywood television network. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how narrator Stephanie Nemeth-Parker rises to the many challenges the book presents. She expertly depicts the protagonist’s claustrophobic and virulent workplace environment, where she is sexually assaulted by another assistant. Her youthful and expressive tone brings added emotional intelligence to this tragically relatable story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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CONFIDENCE by Denise Mina, read by Rona Morison, Jonathan Keeble

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rona Morison masterfully portrays the numerous characters in Denise Mina’s complex new mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this European country-hopping tale of Anna and Fin, two mystery-solving podcasters searching for a missing livestreamer, Lisa Lee. Anna and Fin are contacted by a South African antiques dealer—and possible con man—Bram van Wyk, traveling with him on the hunt, and Jonathan Keeble’s deep voice is well matched for the mysterious character.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE TURNING by Tim Winton, read by Humphrey Bower, Caroline Lee

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the celebrated Australian author’s work, narrated expertly by Caroline Lee and Humphrey Bower. This collection of interlocking stories chronicles all that life has to offer, both good and bad, in a Western Australian coastal town. They are spare, emotional vignettes that focus on choices and consequences. Bower and Lee’s voices alternate throughout the story, and are strong, clear, and emotional without being overwrought or dramatic. A unique listening experience. Tim Winton’s audiobooks will be in discussion in an upcoming AudioFile webinar on August 22nd. Register for the event online.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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HORSE by Geraldine Brooks, read by James Fouhey, Lisa Flanagan, Graham Halstead, Katherine Littrell, Michael Obiora

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Five talented actors honor Geraldine Brooks’s fine new historical novel with unique and complementary performances. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how each narrator establishes a clear style for their character and their story’s era. Inspired by the actual record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, the story takes place in the 1805s, 1950, and in 2019. Listeners hear from the enslaved groom who cared for the horse, the horse’s portraitist, a gallery owner, a Nigerian-American art historian, and a Smithonian scientist. The rich and layered story comes to life with the talented narrations, making a gripping, memorable, and thought-provoking American tale.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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LUCKY TURTLE by Bill Roorbach, read by Brittany Pressley

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Brittany Pressley’s sweet voice is the ideal vehicle for Bill Roorbach’s transporting novel of hardship, love, and redemption. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this story that makes the wild Montana land feel alive for listeners. We meet teenager Cindra Zoeller in the 1990s when she’s sent to a Montana reform camp. Soon, she and the camp’s young handyman have fallen in love, and they begin a lifelong odyssey by escaping into the wilderness. The novel’s bounteous lyricism, and its love for landscape and people, are delivered with heart-brimming appreciation.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Workman Audio.

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THE VERIFIERS by Jane Pek, read by Eunice Wong

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Eunice Wong performs Jane Pek’s debut novel with appropriate intensity and delicate humor. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the unique energy that Eunice brings to the story of Claudia Lin. Claudia has just quit her boring finance gig and taken a position with a start-up investigating bad behavior in online matchmaking. Soon a mysterious client disappears, and Claudia is on the case. This detective story, rom-com, and funny but piquant family drama all at once makes for a delightful listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE MATCH by Harlan Coben, read by Steven Weber

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Harlan Coben’s new audiobook is an edge-of-your seat gripper. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Steven Weber’s Earphones Award-winning performance in this second installment of Wilde. In THE BOY FROM THE WOODS we learn the story of Wilde, a child found in the woods with no memory of how he got there. In MATCH, Wilde still doesn’t know his story, but an ancestry website identifies a match for Wilde’s father—who promptly vanishes. Then a cousin; same story. And then the bodies start piling up. It’s very skillful, very high-octane fun.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY by Becky Chambers, read by Emmett Grosland

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Emmett Grosland narrates with the perfect tone for Becky Chamber’s delightful and introspective sequel to A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about the joy of spending time with tea monk Sibling Dex and their always inquisitive robot companion, Mosscap. The two are leaving the woods behind and venturing out into the human villages on their moon, Panga, to help Mosscap understand the needs of humans. Grosland gives Mosscap a bright voice that suits the charming robot and captures Dex’s exasperated yet kind tone as they try to guide Mosscap through the human world. It’s a hopeful listen, full of humor, in a world that listeners will yearn to return to.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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AUGUST KITKO AND THE MECHAS FROM SPACE by Alex White, read by Hayden Bishop

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Hayden Bishop performs Alex White’s symphonic first entry into a unique space opera that blends sci-fi and music. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook that begins just as humanity is about to end — but fortunately, August Kitko steps in as an unlikely hero. A virtuoso pianist, Gus is unprepared to be scooped into a gigantic mech suit and thrust into battle, but his musical talents forge a strong connection with the rebel alien faction working to save humanity. Bishop embodies every character with engaging ease, giving each a distinct voice, and enlivening the action-packed sequences and witty banter alike.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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AN IMMENSE WORLD by Ed Yong, read by Ed Yong

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Science writer Ed Yong is an enthusiastic guide through the world of animal senses—many very different from our own. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the incredible examination of the multifaceted world of animal senses. Listeners join Ed as he visits labs, talks with researchers, and gets out in the field. He is a capable translator of scientific descriptions, keeping listeners engaged all the while. Listeners will learn much about the vast world that exists beyond our ken, and will be urged to consider the world through the eyes, ears, noses, and toes of our fellow creatures.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THANK YOU FOR LISTENING by Julia Whelan, read by Julia Whelan

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Author and Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan tells the story of Sewanee, an actress turned audiobook narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the fun of listening to Julia narrate her own work. Sewanee grew up longing to act, but a tragic accident sends her life down a different past. Now well-loved for her audiobook narrations under her real name, she’s called upon to co-narrate a final work from a favorite romance author under her pseudonym. She and her secretive male narrator connect over emails and texts, but when their identities are revealed, everything is questioned. Intricacies of audiobook narration are balanced with palpable emotion voiced in an impressive range, including swoony love interests, gossiping grandmothers, and more.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio

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WHAT SOULS ARE MADE OF by Tasha Suri, read by Alex Williams, Becca Hirani

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Alex Williams and Becca Hirani give impassioned performances in a captivating retelling of Emily Brontë’s WUTHERING HEIGHTS. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Tashi Suri’s marvelous, haunting addition to the Remixed Classics series. A dark-skinned “boy from nowhere,” Heathcliff flees the Heights after hearing Cathy say he’s too lowborn to marry her. Williams embodies Heathcliff’s hurt and anger as he fights to forge his own life in Liverpool. Cathy feels endless guilt, and Hirani channels all of the character’s desperation to escape her weighty obligations and the past that haunts her family. Suri’s adaptation gives listeners perspectives on the minds of these two teenagers who are desperately in love, while also delving into their backstories and underscoring the impact of British colonization.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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EMBRACE FEARLESSLY THE BURNING WORLD by Barry Lopez, Rebecca Solnit [Intro.], read by James Naughton, Rebecca Solnit [Intro.]

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

James Naughton has narrated several of the late Barry Lopez’s audiobooks, and he performs in a deep, calm, resonant tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Naughton’s distinctive voice and apt delivery suit these valedictory essays. The audiobook takes the listener around the globe and captures Barry the writer and naturalist engaged in field work in places “remote, elemental, and fierce.” The listener is treated to his forays to the South Pole, the Alaskan outback, and Africa.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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SINGING LESSONS FOR THE STYLISH CANARY by Laura Stanfill, read by Graham Halstead

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Graham Halstead performs Laura Stanfill’s audiobook with the right balance of storyteller and conspirator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss an immersive novel set primarily in rural France in the 19th century. Halstead narrates the galloping historical novel with just the right pace and intonation. Music runs through the text as well, as the family business of Heri Blanchard is crafting serinettes, small hand organs used to teach male canaries to sing. A fine and fun listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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THE ANGEL OF ROME by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this audiobook that marks the convergence of two Golden Voice narrators with one of the country’s finest fiction writers. Author Jess Walter’s writing ennobles his characters, making the ordinary extraordinary. Edoardo Ballerini and Julia Whelan narrate these empathic, witty, and finely wrought short stories. Whelan sparkles with her persuasive style, smooth tone, and practiced cadence. Ballerini acts all his stories with restraint and veracity, performing with his characteristic empathy and signature evocative tone.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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ROUGE STREET by Shuang Xuetao, Jeremy Tiang [Trans.], read by Brian Nishii

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Brian Nishii gives Shuan Xuetao’s three novellas a vivid, unforgettable performance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how these stories give insights to life in Shenyang, China, written in spare revelatory prose. Nishii illuminates the harsh existences of the characters but there’s wit and whimsy, too. Shuang Xuetao is among China’s most honored young writers; ROUGE STREET is his first work to be translated into English.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ by Morgan Talty, read by Darrell Dennis

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Darrell Dennis narrates Morgan Talty’s collection of interconnected short stories with calculated restraint, empathy, and a sure sense of the author’s voice. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this debut collection from Talty (Penobscot Indian Nation), a gifted young writer from Maine. Dennis voices central character David, who is Penobscot, with a convincing tone and careful cadence. The stories teeter from funny to sad, capturing the dark contours of life on the reservation, creating an isolated and insular world for listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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In Conversation with Adjoa Andoh, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus episode, host Jo Reed interviews Adjoa Andoh, named one of AudioFile’s 2022 Golden Voice narrators this June. Listen to their conversation to hear more about her career in acting and audiobooks, the power of acting, and the incredible success of “Bridgerton,” the Netflix series in which she plays the scene-stealer Lady Danbury.

Adjoa Andoh is a well-loved British actor of stage, screen, and radio, and she has brought hundreds of audiobooks to life for listeners over the years, many of them winners of Earphones Awards. She has been recognized on AudioFile's annual Best Audiobooks lists for her narrations across a range of genres, including Lauren Groff's historical fiction MATRIX, Nnedi Okorafor's fantastical sci-fi REMOTE CONTROL, and Talia Hibbert's lively contemporary romance GET A LIFE, CHLOE BROWN.

Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Adjoa Andoh and read reviews of her audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators, visit our website.

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POET WARRIOR by Joy Harjo, read by Joy Harjo

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. poet laureate, narrates a stunning memoir filled with wisdom and compassion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss how Harjo’s voice invites listeners in, as she narrates with a calm, lyrical narration. She shares tales of her Muscogee/Creek ancestors, personal anecdotes and remembrances, and her growing awareness of messages found in the natural world. She sings ancient songs, recites her poetry, and offers stirring messages of forgiveness, healing, and enlightenment. A quietly memorable listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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THE KEY TO DECEIT by Ashley Weaver, read by Alison Larkin

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

A spirited performance by Alison Larkin enlivens the second Electra McDonnell historical mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Ashley Weaver’s novel set before the Blitz in London, 1940. The body of a woman found in the Thames is wearing a cuff bracelet requiring unlocking. The Major calls upon Ellie and her less-than-legal skills to unlock it. Larkin captures Ellie’s smart-alecky attitude to perfection, along with her cheerful, chirpy comments. They discover a tiny camera hidden in the bracelet, and they realize they are dealing with a network of German spies looking for possible bombing sites. Then the bombing begins. Engrossing listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA by Katie Cotugno, read by Julia Whelan

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan becomes former child star Fiona St. James, offering just the right amount of backstage gossip, romance, and mystery to keep listeners engaged. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this Golden Voice narrator’s talented performance. Fiona was a pivotal character in the TV sitcom “Birds of California.” When the producers want to reboot the series and co-star Sam Fox tries to convince her to join, dormant feelings emerge and she becomes irrational and unpredictable. Whelan provides credible voices and emotions, developing the romantic undercurrent between Sam and Fiona. Great summer listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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MAGIC, LIES, AND DEADLY PIES by Misha Popp, read by Tanya Eby

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Tanya Eby delivers a sweet treat in this delightful new audiobook mystery series from Misha Popp. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this tale of Daisy, a pie-baking, vigilante, serial-killer-witch who bakes up “murder pies” to settle scores for women who have abusive men in their lives. Daisy, a most unusual heroine, confesses, “The first time I killed a man with a pie, it was an accident. But only the first.” Eby’s Daisy is upbeat and warmhearted, and her quirky and engaging performance makes Daisy’s questionable moral compass unquestionably digestible.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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A SPY'S LIFE by Henry Porter, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Matthew Lloyd Davies’s performance is intelligent, honest, and compelling in Henry Porter’s intriguing story filled with spycraft and surprises. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss the many twists and turns that Davies takes listeners down as he performs this terrific audiobook. Robert Harland, ex-British spy, currently works for the UN secretary-general. After surviving a plane crash, he’s drawn back into intelligence work. As narrator, Davies is the complete package. When a man claiming to be Harland’s son appears, Davies ratchets up the tension. His voice is flexible, and his characterizations are completely credible, thanks to his top-notch acting

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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MANAGING EXPECTATIONS by Minnie Driver, read by Minnie Driver

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

English actor Minnie Driver’s captivating performance of her exceptional memoir will have you listening 24/7. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the memoir told in a series of emotional essays providing insights into Driver’s life as a human, rather than as a star. In witty prose and with great storytelling skill, Driver offers beautifully crafted, often funny, always wise snapshots of her life. Her warm, inviting voice makes you wish to stay long in her company.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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YOU HAVE A FRIEND IN 10A by Maggie Shipstead, read by Mark Deakins, Mark Bramhall, Ari Fliakos, George Newbern, Kyla Garcia, Alex McKenna, Xe Sands, Rebecca Lowman

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Excellent narration from a bevy of capable narrators enhances Maggie Shipstead’s incisive collection of 10 short stories. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the collection that showcases Shipstead’s work and breadth of characters from stories written over the past decade. Alex McKenna’s rendition of an actor breaking away from a cult is especially memorable. Shipstead’s complex, flawed characters aren’t altogether likable, but the author has pulled together a sharp and likable collection indeed.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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TRACY FLICK CAN'T WIN by Tom Perrotta, read by Lucy Liu, Dennis Boutsikaris, Jeremy Bobb, Ramona Young, Ali Andre Ali, Pete Simonelli, and a Full Cast

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Lucy Liu, Dennis Boutsikaris, and other talented performers rivet listeners with Tom Perotta’s sequel to ELECTION. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the multi-cast performance reintroducing us to Tracy Flick, now a middle-aged assistant principal hoping for a promotion. When a rich alum insists that Green Meadow High School create a Hall of Fame featuring successful graduates, it stirs up troubling memories for the whole community. A lively ensemble performance that will captivate listeners right up to the audiobook’s unexpected, timely conclusion.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub, read by Marin Ireland

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Marin Ireland offers an adroit and heartfelt performance of Emma Straub’s clever new novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the time-traveling adventures of Alice, who goes to sleep at 40 worried for her ailing father and wakes as a 16 year old again, back in time. Alice wrestles with big questions and funny situations, and Ireland’s welcoming voice and deft pacing keep listeners fully engaged in this insightful, generous plot. Addictive listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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COUNTERFEIT by Kirstin Chen, read by Catherine Ho

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Catherine Ho delivers a stellar performance of this fast-paced caper from Kirstin Chen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how Ho perfectly inhabits Ava Wong, a frazzled wife and mom, and Winnie Fang, Ava’s formerly shy classmate who is now rich and full of confidence. Winnie entangles Ava in a global fake handbag scheme. Ho channels both characters’ manipulative and subversive qualities and keeps listeners guessing at what’s real in this entertaining listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE 6:20 MAN by David Baldacci, read by Zachary Webber, Christine Lakin, Mela Lee

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners are treated to Zachary Webber’s perfect portrayal of ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine, a trained fighting machine. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audiobook that they call an excellent vacation listen. Christine Lakin and Mela Lee share the women’s dialogue, providing well-matched voices for the various characters, while Webber narrates the male characters with skill. The complex story revolves around murders in the financial institution Devine works for. The narrators give a gripping performance, making for a page-turner of an audio experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE WEEK by David M. Henkin, read by Pete Cross

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

David Henkin’s encyclopedic audiobook is equal parts sociology and arcane history about the human impact of the seven-day week. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how this mix of history, psychology, sociology, and social observations makes for fascinating listening with Pete Cross at the narrative helm. The author is an expert on the uses and impact of the seven-day week, and he writes in a friendly style. Cross’s sparkling performance makes this a quick listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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ALL THE TEARS IN CHINA by Sulari Gentill, read by Rupert Degas

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Rupert Degas channels the characters in Sulari Gentill’s charming historical mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the excellent narration of new Golden Voice narrator Rupert Degas. Australian Roland Sinclair, an artist and a gentleman, has a penchant for scandal and finds plenty while in Shanghai. Degas creates fully formed vocal portraits of each of the characters, and his narrative style is one that Golden Age mystery listeners will recognize. Brilliant entertainment from Degas.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by W.F. Howes.

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GOLD SPUN by Brandie June, read by Kathleen McInerney

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Kathleen McInerney provides a fabulous voice for Brandie June’s retelling of Rumplestiltskin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this classic fantasy with clever twists, adventure, mystery, and magic. McInerney’s fresh and youthful voice is a delicious match for the love triangle between Nor, our tricky protagonist; Pel, the handsome, magical fairy; and Prince Casper, soon to be King. A fantastical adventure that will keep listeners entertained and anticipating the next in the series.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by CamCat Books.

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THE HOTEL NANTUCKET by Elin Hilderbrand, read by Erin Bennett

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Erin Bennett delivers Elin Hilderbrand’s stellar beach read with a historical twist. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this summer listen set at a Nantucket beach resort. The Hotel Nantucket was destroyed by a fire in 1922, and now a new British owner has restored it. The manager is determined to succeed—but a ghost may get in the way. Perfect for listeners looking for a book with a little mystery, a little romance, quirky characters, great narration—and that’s a bit of an escape.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE DAWNHOUNDS by Sascha Stronach, read by Anna Coddington

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0000

New Zealander Anna Coddington’s rich accent enhances Sascha Stronach’s surreal and unforgettable Māori-inspired fantasy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the audiobook packed with fierce queer pirates, lush living cities, bio-alchemical wonders, and a terrifying plague. Yat Jyn-Hok is an exhausted cop and former street kid, recently demoted after being caught at a gay bar. Coddington’s melodious voice conveys Yat’s conflicting love and hope for her struggling port city of Hainak, and her anger at its many injustices. When Yat wanders down the wrong street and is killed by strange cops, she’s brought back to life by an ancient being and awakens with vibrant new powers. A marvelous, distinct, and dizzying fantasy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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SIREN QUEEN by Nghi Vo, read by Natalie Naudus

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Natalie Naudus’s skilled narration adds to the luminous and otherworldly qualities of Nghi Vo’s historical fantasy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this absorbing story of ambition, glamor, and power in old Hollywood—except here, it’s full of magic. To succeed, actors must make dangerous pacts, trade away years of their lives for insider secrets, and fend off terrifying monsters. Naudus enlivens the ambitious and bold Luli Wei, the captivating women she falls for, and the roaring executives looking to own her, and her soul. There is so much magic woven into the story, but it’s not just an otherworldly threat that Luli faces—she also faces racism, sexism, and homophobia as she fights for stardom. It’s a surreal and spellbinding story of the Golden Age of Hollywood, one that’s steeped in ancient magic.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE HACIENDA by Isabel Cañas, read by Victoria Villarreal, Lee Osorio

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Victoria Villarreal and Lee Osorio narrate Isabel Cañas’s Gothic horror story set in Mexico in 1823. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the many thrills of this story of a haunted house and the woman determined to make it her home. Beatriz, narrated by Villarreal with strength and sweetness, marries in an attempt to find a safe home for herself and her mother after her father was executed during the revolution. When she arrives, mysterious noises and disturbing discoveries lead her to believe the house is haunted—and out to kill her. Lee Osorio’s deep, gravelly voice suits Andreas, a young priest who falls for Beatriz while using his Indigenous knowledge to try and exorcize her home. A haunting listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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KAMILA KNOWS BEST by Farah Heron, read by Soneela Nankani

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

The remarkably talented Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani performs Farah Heron’s feel-good romance flawlessly. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to Heron’s contemporary take on Austen’s EMMA, set in Toronto. Kamila Hussain is living the perfect life, with friends, family, a career she loves, Bollywood movie nights, and a longtime friend and brother-in-law, Rohan Nasser, who is always there by her side. She’s also a matchmaking whiz (or so she thinks) who hasn’t found her own ideal match and is fine with that. But why is she suddenly so aware of Rohan’s forearms? Nankani is a wizard at producing emotive character voices that sound authentic and distinct. This is the perfect pairing of author and narrator, and a friends-to-lovers romance not to miss.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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YERBA BUENA by Nina LaCour, read by Julia Whelan

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Julia Whelan’s quiet, graceful narration is the perfect match for Nina LaCour’s flowing prose in her stunning, layered novel about two queer women who are slowly finding their way to each other—and themselves. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Whelan’s skilled narration of this beautiful book. Her light touch highlights its emotional complexity without drawing attention from LaCour’s immersive prose full of sensory details, vivid characters, and moments of gorgeously rendered ordinary life.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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LOVE MARRIAGE by Monica Ali, read by Ayesha Dharker

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Ayesha Dharker performs Monica Ali’s darkly comic audiobook smartly and sensitively, giving each character their due. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this finely crafted novel, narrated with subtle and unique intonations for each character, whether British or Indian immigrants. Her portrayal of the conflicted heroine, Dr. Yasmin Ghorami, is apt and captures all of her angst. The plot traces the family’s intersections with Yasmin’s coming marriage to another young doctor, whose shrouded backstory initiates the action. Secrets are revealed and lives are altered in this finely tuned fiction.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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WHAT THE ERMINE SAW by Eden Collinsworth, read by Cassandra Campbell

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The clarity, precision, and mellow grace of Golden Voice Cassandra Campbell’s narrations have made her a favorite for a wide range of audiobooks. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how her clear and precise narration elevates this audiobook, with her lovely mastery of Italian on display. She reads with authority and enlivens Eden Collinsworth’s text that gives life to a da Vinci masterpiece, “The Lady with Ermine,” hidden from the world for more than two centuries.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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MANHATTAN PHOENIX by Daniel S. Levy, read by Mike Lenz

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Mike Lenz narrates in a thoughtful style and measured tone that works well for Daniel S. Levy’s history of nineteenth-century Manhattan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss his storytelling style that propels the narrative forward, letting the dozens of compelling anecdotes tell themselves. There are sometimes chaotic, often revealing stories of fires, riots, diseases, fame, and more. It’s a chronicling of the making of modern New York City, with historical details galore.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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ADRIATIC by Robert D. Kaplan, read by Arthur Morey

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Arthur Morey easily assumes the persona of an especially well informed, keenly observant guide in this audiobook tour of the Adriatic countries. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the warmth and sophistication in Morey’s narration of Robert D. Kaplan’s work, focused around eastern Europe. His idiosyncratic delivery is made for the audiobook that travels around the Adriatic Sea from Venice, through the Balkan countries. In classical travel writing style, Kaplan comments on art and architecture and explores changes noticed over three decades of observation. An audiobook that fills in pieces in a very old and multifaceted history.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE CHIMPANZEE WHISPERER by Stany Nyandwi, David Blissett, Dr. Jane Goodall [Fore.], read by Dion Graham, Callie Beaulieu [Fore.]

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham inhabits Stany Nyandwi’s memoir, exploring his life as a gifted African primatologist. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Graham replicates all of Nyandwi’s emotions and experiences with his tone, pace, and cadence. Nyandwi’s ability to communicate with chimpanzees led famed researcher Jane Goodall to describe him as a “chimp whisperer.” It’s a story that goes beyond his life as a talented animal caretaker, delving into conservation and environmental issues the chimpanzees face and the author’s experiences in Burundi’s civil war. A truly marvelous pairing of audiobook and narrator.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio.

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In conversation with Rupert Degas, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition, host Jo Reed interviews Rupert Degas, who was named one of AudioFile’s 2022 Golden Voice narrators this June. Listen to their conversation to learn more about how he got his start in acting and narration, the one accent that always gives him trouble, and how he works to lean into his performances to bring stories alive for audiobook listeners.

Rupert is a versatile narrator, and his narrations are an immersive experience thanks to his heartfelt performances. He is celebrated for his work in audiobooks ranging from the dazzling full-cast production of THE GOLDEN COMPASS—he plays the daemon Pantalaimon—to Gerald Durrell’s memoirs.

Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Rupert Degas and read reviews of his audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators, visit AudioFile's website.

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MISS CHLOE by A.J. Verdelle, read by Bahni Turpin

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Golden Voice Bahni Turpin turns A.J. Verdelle’s reflections on her literary relationship with Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison (born Chloe Wofford) into a song of praise and wonder. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this memoir from the author of THE GOOD NEGRESS. Turpin’s perfect diction and melodic intonation take listeners through Verdelle’s worshipful delight at Miss Chloe’s attentions and even their sometimes prickly moments. Turpin’s narration is intimate, insightful, and suffused with admiration for both of these talented women. Her performance makes their unique story a journey worth taking.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Harper Audio.

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FORBIDDEN CITY by Vanessa Hua, read by Catherine Ho

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Catherine Ho immediately captivates in Vanessa Hua’s original and intriguing story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this historical fiction audiobook set during China’s Cultural Revolution about teenager Mei Xiang, who becomes Chairman Mao Zedong’s lover. Ho’s voice bristles with energy as Mei, who is happy to leave her dull farm life behind when she’s selected as part of a dance troupe bound for the capital. Because of her revolutionary zeal, Mei attracts the Chairman’s attention. Ho’s descriptions from Mei’s point of view reflect her growing awareness of the politics of the period. Her stellar performance adds to this thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE YOUNGER WIFE by Sally Hepworth, read by Zoe Carides, Jessica Douglas-Henry, Barrie Kreinik, Caroline Lee

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss the four talented narrators who become the troubled women in Dr. Stephen Aston’s life. After opening with a shocking event, the novel is told in flashbacks clarifying the events leading up to Stephen’s third wedding and the effects he has on the women in his life. Zoe Carides, Jessica Douglas-Henry, Barrie Kreinik, and Caroline Lee highlight the uncertainties and worries of each woman and her problems. It is a novel full of gaslighting, manipulation, and probable abuse, and each narrator’s primary character is entirely compelling and convincing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE CHERRY ROBBERS by Sarai Walker, read by January LaVoy

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy narrates Sarai Walker’s chilling audiobook complete with ghosts, madness, and secrets. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Golden Voice narrator LaVoy’s skill at delivering fully developed characters and creating the perfect ambiance for this gothic novel. LaVoy channels Sylvia Wren, a world-famous, reclusive Arizona artist. Currently, she’s being hounded by a journalist who’s threatening to reveal her real identity: She is the heiress to the Chapel Firearms fortune, Iris Chapel. One-upping the reporter, Sylvia writes her own memoir, offering a disturbing look at her childhood. LaVoy navigates the backstory smoothly, becoming each of the six doomed sisters and their Cassandra-like mother.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham, read by Suzanne Toren

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Suzanne Toren’s performance of Gillham’s novel is a tour de force. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this Golden Voice narrator’s skill at bringing historical fiction to life for listeners. Rachel, a Jewish refugee living in New York City in 1955, is plagued by guilt for her actions during WWII. Toren’s lush voice and understated delivery make every word ring true and every powerful emotion tug at the heart, and her Yiddish is faultless. Toren is simply outstanding.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt, read by Marin Ireland, Michael Urie

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a fantastical debut audiobook that will enchant listeners. Gifted vocal artist Marin Ireland portrays Tova, a 70-year-old widow, and Ireland’s encouraging tones suit Tova, whose compassion touches everyone in her small Washington town. She cleans at an aquarium, where she has formed an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus with acerbic wit and shrewd observations wonderfully captured by Michael Urie. A fanciful and enjoyable listening experience about community and friendship.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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AT LEAST YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH by Madi Sinha, read by Soneela Nankani

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Madi Sinha’s newest novel, narrated by Golden Voice Soneela Nankani. Gynecologist Dr. Maya Rau, the daughter of Indian immigrants, interacts with a diverse set of patients. She struggles with balancing her work and home lives, and battles hospital bureaucracies, racism, classism, and ignorance about health care. Nankani expresses the character’s many emotions, moods, and attitudes with dramatic verve. When Dr. Rau begins working for an exclusive wellness clinic, her clientele changes dramatically. Nankani’s warm and emotional narration makes this medical fiction memorable listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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EVEN WHEN YOUR VOICE SHAKES by Ruby Yayra Goka, read by Adjoa Andoh

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Adjoa Andoh’s lilting accents and rich voice add to the sensory details of Ruby Yayra Goka’s novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this moving young adult audiobook set in Ghana. Andoh’s reading of this first-person story projects a sense of drama that increases during the dialogue. Sixteen-year-old Amerley has always been responsible for her siblings, and so she takes on an unwelcome job to help support her family. Then she’s assaulted on her job, and pressured to keep quiet. Eventually, she does speak up—even when her voice shakes. A powerful story with a convincing heroine, and a view of Ghana seldom seen in the U.S.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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WE WERE DREAMERS by Simu Liu, read by Simu Liu

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Simu Liu is a natural narrator, conversational and appealing as he shares his engaging story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Liu’s memoir that explores not only his star role as Shang-Chi, but also the story of his family in China and Canada. Liu is earnest as he relates his experiences as an immigrant, feeling the weight of his parents’ expectations and navigating an increasingly rocky relationship with them. Liu’s driven yet playful personality comes through as he tackles the highs and lows of chasing his dream.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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GROUNDSKEEPING by Lee Cole, read by Michael Crouch

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Love and its complexities—familial, romantic, geographical—are the backbone of this excellent audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the Earphones Award-winning narration of Golden Voice Michael Crouch. He provides distinct vocal shifts as he portrays entire personalities with his thoughtful character development. Owen is a groundskeeper at a Kentucky college, his days punctuated by his budding romance with visiting author Alma and his entry into the creative writing program. The story skillfully balances heartfelt and hilarious moments. Beautifully suited to the audio format.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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On Juliet Stevenson, Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are welcoming Juliet Stevenson as a 2022 Golden Voice narrator. Listeners appreciate Juliet’s crystalline voice and expressive accents. Her performances are elegant, and her characters are memorable. She has been narrating audiobooks for nearly 40 years, and has said she loves how audiobooks extend her range as an actor. She has extensive work as an actor on stage and screen, as well. Look for Jo’s interview with Juliet in August to hear more about her audiobook narrations.

Essential Listening titles:

JACOB’S ROOM by Virginia Woolf

THE GOLDEN NOTEBOOK by Doris Lessing

THE LITTLE RED CHAIRS by Edna O’Brien

THE ROAD HOME by Rose Tremain

BELGRAVIA by Julian Fellowes

Discover more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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On Rupert Degas, Golden Voice Narrator

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are celebrating Rupert Degas, one of AudioFile’s 2022 Golden Voice narrators. Golden Voices are the stars of the audiobook universe, and we are excited to honor Rupert with that title. He has an exceptional ability to bring different characters to life, with an extremely varied range, from playful and humorous to dense intellectual literary fiction and classics. Stay tuned for Jo Reed’s interview with Rupert coming later in June.

Essential listening:

THE AYE-AYE AND I by Gerald Durrell

THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE by Haruki Murakami

THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES by Saki

SOUTH by Ernest Shackleton

THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Philip Pullman, read by a Full Cast, with Rupert as Pantalaimon

Discover more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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On Adjoa Andoh, Golden Voice Narrator

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the narrating universe. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are celebrating Adjoa Andoh, a 2022 Golden Voice narrator, renowned actor on stage and screen, and narrator of more than 150 audiobooks with versatile performances and a mastery of accents. For listeners of fantasy, historical fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, literary fiction, and classics, Adjoa provides a distinctive, resonant voice, smoothly jumping into each character. Fans of Netflix’s Bridgerton series will also recognize Adjoa as the scene-stealing Lady Danbury. Her presence is felt through each audiobook’s characters, whether in Nnedi Okorafor’s breathtaking REMOTE CONTROL or the lyrical MATRIX by Lauren Groff. Stay tuned in July for an interview with Adjoa on her years of work bringing audiobooks to life for listeners.

Essential listening:

MATRIX by Lauren Groff

THE RAVEN TOWER by Anne Leckie

ISLAND QUEEN by Vanessa Riley

REMOTE CONTROL by Nnedi Okorafor

CHARLOTTE SOPHIA by Tina Andrews

Discover more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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SINGLED OUT by Andrew Maraniss, read by Kevin R. Free

Tue, 31 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Kevin R. Free approaches the narration of Maraniss’s biography of baseball player Glenn Burke with dignity and an engaged tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Free’s skillful narration of Burke’s biography, available from June 2-8, 2022, through AudioFile’s SYNC program, which provides free audiobooks for teens all summer long. Having played in the 1970s, Burke is remembered for two things: he was gay at a time when the gay liberation movement was in its infancy, and he’s credited as the inventor of the high five. A fine look at a ballplayer and the era he played in.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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SISTERS OF THE SNAKE by Sasha Nanua, Sarena Nanua, read by Soneela Nankani

Mon, 30 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani does double duty breathing life into the characters of Rani and Ria. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this impressive fantasy title for teens, one of the many available through AudioFile’s SYNC summer program for free teen audiobooks. Soneela displays an impressive array of vocal abilities as she tells the story of a princess and an orphan who, due to their identical appearance, swap places to save their home from war. Listen to hear a story full of magic set in a dangerous, sumptuous world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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NICK AND CHARLIE by Alice Oseman, read by Huw Parmenter, Sam Newton

Fri, 27 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Get ready for ALL the feelings. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly and host Jo Reed discuss Alice Oseman’s story of the British prep school boyfriends who readers and viewers fell in love with in HEARTSTOPPER. Narrators Huw Parmenter and Sam Newton bring listeners up to date on Charlie and Nick’s relationship as the end of the school year approaches. As Nick talks more about being excited to go to university, Charlie worries their relationship won’t withstand the distance and fears being left behind. Oseman’s writing is incredibly appealing, and in alternating first-person chapters, Parmenter and Newton bring out all of Charlie and Nick’s humor, charm, teenage angst, and swoony romance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited.

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ZACHARY YING AND THE DRAGON EMPEROR by Xiran Jay Zhao, read by Neo Cihi

Thu, 26 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Neo Cihi narrates Xiran Jay Zhao’s action-packed middle-grade audiobook with dramatic emphasis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this contemporary fantasy packed full of Chinese mythology and history. Zachary Ying is swept into a supernatural quest across China when he’s possessed by the spirit of a 2,000-year-old Chinese emperor through his high-tech gaming device. He joins fellow possessed 12-year-olds Simon and Melissa to help save China—and his mom, whose own spirit is in danger. Cihi switches seamlessly between English and Chinese and helps listeners feel all the tension as the high-intensity adventure ramps up. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT by Kyle Lukoff, read by Cassandra Morris, Kyle Lukoff [Note]

Wed, 25 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Cassandra Morris’s bright and youthful tone fits Annabelle, a sixth-grader growing up sheltered in a small Washington town. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kyle Lukoff’s excellent writing and Morris’s lively narration that work seamlessly to bring Annabelle and the well-rounded characters to life. Annabelle fears that this school year will be the same as all the others—but when she meets Bailey, her new nonbinary classmate, her world opens wider and she gains new perspectives. Annabelle comes to better understand herself, her family, and her community thanks to Bailey’s friendship. Highly recommended family listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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INHERITANCE by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Elizabeth Acevedo

Tue, 24 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Poet Elizabeth Acevedo’s narration of her groundbreaking spoken-word poem resonates with love, understanding, and heartbreak. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Acevedo’s breathtaking narration of INHERITANCE, her poem originally titled “Hair” that achieved viral fame during her 2014 slam poetry circuit. With a thrumming rhythm and exquisitely placed pauses, Acevedo celebrates the beauty and importance of Black hair. While brief, it’s an audio packed with insights and clarity that demands a relisten.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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NOTHING BURNS AS BRIGHT AS YOU by Ashley Woodfolk, read by Amani Minter

Mon, 23 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Amani Minter’s quiet and heartfelt narration grounds the listener in the story of an all-consuming friendship and fierce first love. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Ashley Woodfolk’s novel in verse centered around the relationship between two unnamed Black girls. Minter’s pleasantly husky voice recounts a tense and emotional day when the pair set fires, intentionally and not, which change the course of their lives, and their perceptions of themselves. The narrative jumps through time recounting their first meeting, their growing friendship, and how it shifted into something more. Minter’s intentional narration adds a layer of intimacy to this lyrical novel in verse.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE BEAUTY OF DUSK by Frank Bruni, read by Frank Bruni

Fri, 20 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Frank Bruni narrates his audiobook in a tone of calm wisdom. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss how Bruni, a columnist and critic for THE NEW YORK TIMES, became partially blind after a stroke. As the medical establishment struggled to discover what exactly happened, Bruni learned to adapt to his new reality. He expands the work to reflect on the nature of aging and the value of knowledge and wisdom as one grows older. Throughout, listeners will find themselves enveloped by Bruni’s hopeful tone.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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HER HIDDEN GENIUS by Marie Benedict, read by Nicola Barber

Thu, 19 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Nicola Barber’s expressive narration captures the inner life and scientific mindset of Rosalind Franklin, the great English biophysicist. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss how Barber is a wonderfully expressive reader of Marie Benedict’s historical novel. The plot follows the real-life Franklin on her epoch-making research into the structures of DNA, RNA, and viruses. Barber’s first-person narration provides an insider’s feeling of the challenges experienced by a female scientist in the world of 1950s genetic research.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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DIRTY BIRD BLUES by Clarence Major, Yusef Komunyakaa [Fore.], John Beckman [Intro.], read by Dion Graham

Wed, 18 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham gives a virtuoso performance of fictional bluesman Manfred (Man) Banks. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Graham’s interpretation of this 25th anniversary edition of Clarence Major’s novel. Graham sings, riffs, wails, and weeps as he takes listeners into the soul of the protagonist, a bluesman with the can’t-win-for-losing blues. Man travels from Chicago to Omaha, and trouble follows.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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MEAT ME HALFWAY by Brian Kateman, read by Pete Cross

Tue, 17 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Pete Cross reads Brian Kateman’s polemical audiobook thoughtfully and with good pace and a sure sense of its complexity and meaning. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Cross delivers the arguments and manages to balance the audiobook’s informal tone and informational content. Kateman shares his own story and takes on the issues surrounding the raising of cattle, the production of meat, and the environmental cost of eating meat. Worthy listening for anyone interested in the future of food.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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ZABAR'S by Lori Zabar, Julia Moskin [Fore.], read by Erin Bennett

Mon, 16 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Erin Bennett narrates the late Lori Zabar’s insider history of a New York institution with the right blend of appreciation and conviction. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss this fascinating history of the famed Jewish deli Zabar’s—and its recipes. Lori Zabar, who was the granddaughter of immigrant founders Lou and Lilly, shares the past, warts and all. This engaging audiobook leaves the listener hungry for a toasted bagel with Nova and a schmear.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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MURDER AMONG FRIENDS by Candace Fleming, read by Angela Dawe

Fri, 13 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

With the talents of narrator Angela Dawe, the author’s extensive research and strong writing propel listeners through an account of the 1924 murder committed by teenagers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this YA true crime audiobook that explores the lives, relationships, and motives of the two teenagers and their hopes to pull off the “perfect crime.” The story is disturbing, and Dawe’s narration is gripping.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Listening Library.

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EASY BEAUTY by Chloé Cooper Jones, read by Chloé Cooper Jones

Thu, 12 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Chloé Cooper Jones’s memoir is made even more personal with her narration of the audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this exploration of the author’s physical disability and her fight to thrive in spite of the constant judgment, pity, and prejudice of others. Jones offers a profoundly honest examination of society’s standards of beauty and desirability and insightfully explores disability, parenthood, relationships, and more.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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HOW TO BE PERFECT by Michael Schur, read by Michael Schur, Kristen Bell, and a full cast

Wed, 11 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Michael Schur and the cast of “The Good Place” collaborate once more, this time to ponder today’s toughest moral questions. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the fun of listening to the audiobook, hearing the author’s own words along with the many actors who join for the performance. Schur delivers hilarious sarcasm as he tackles ethics and explains balancing morality and achieving virtue. A fun companion for fans of the show—and for listeners intrigued by the ideas of morality and philosophy.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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FINDING ME by Viola Davis, read by Viola Davis

Tue, 10 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Viola Davis’s audiobook captures the voice of a woman with a fascinating, heartbreaking lived experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the power of hearing Davis perform for listeners, telling her story honestly and emotionally. Davis describes her childhood growing up in a family struggling with poverty, her hard work and talent that brought her to Juilliard and beyond, and finding success in the arts. Her voice is vulnerable and strong, and the result is electric.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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TEN STEPS TO NANETTE by Hannah Gadsby, read by Hannah Gadsby

Mon, 09 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Australian stand-up comedian Hannah Gadsby narrates her memoir wonderfully. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this excellent memoir from the woman who shot to fame with her Netflix special “Nanette.” Her work combines humor with personal accounts of the brutal realities of her life as a queer autistic woman, and how her experiences informed her career and the memorable “Nanette.” She delivers the audiobook the same way she performs on stage, demonstrating a mastery of expression and pacing that allows her words and stories to have the maximum impact. A don't-miss audiobook of the year.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LAST MAPMAKER by Christina Soontornvat, read by Sura Siu

Fri, 06 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Sura Siu captivates as she narrates Christina Soontornvat’s breathtaking seafaring adventure. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about listening to this exciting audiobook with her children—multiple times! Sai is a bright-voiced and bold 12-year-old girl hoping to set a new course for her life and leave her past behind. She’s thrilled when her assistantship to mapmaker Paiyoon yields a chance to join an expedition charting the Southern seas. Soontornvat’s Thai-inspired fantasy world is one listeners will adore exploring, and Siu brings it to life beautifully. She amps up the pace as Sai faces storms, betrayal, and maybe even dragons on the high seas.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio.

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SEATMATE by Cara Bastone, read by Amanda Ronconi, Zachary Webber, and a full cast

Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Amanda Ronconi and Zachary Webber are utterly convincing as two seatmates who hit it off on a crowded and eventful bus ride. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to this audiobook-first romance packed with a full cast of narrators, believable sound effects, and audible chemistry between the two leads. Ronconi conveys Gwen’s lively snark and enthusiasm beautifully as Gwen draws the quieter Sam out of his shell. Webber makes Sam’s caring and lovable nature—and every goofy laugh—seem completely real. An addicting treat for listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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FEVERED STAR by Rebecca Roanhorse, read by Christian Barillas, Darrell Dennis, Cara Gee, Nicole Lewis, Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Wed, 04 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Five talented narrators continue an epic fantasy story of political upheaval, magic, and destiny in the Meridian. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the audiobook that takes listeners into the tense weeks after the explosive ending of BLACK SUN. Serapio, narrated with intensity and vulnerability by Shaun Taylor-Corbett, is struggling to maintain his humanity after becoming a living avatar of a god. Each character wants something from the Crow God, and the narrators propel the story forward in turn, expertly conveying the tangled fears and ambitions of the many players. Listeners will be left anticipating part three of this tense series inspired by pre-Columbian societies.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

Tue, 03 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan’s dynamic performance will have listeners savoring every word of Emily Henry’s newest romance audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the latest audiobook from the duo who brought BEACH READ and PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION to listeners. Nora is unlucky in romantic love but adores her work as a book agent, her life in New York City, and her younger sister, Libby. During a month-long vacation in rural North Carolina, Nora runs into a rival colleague, the enigmatic Charlie. Whelan conveys all of the rapid-fire insults and the flirty banter perfectly. Listeners will discover a compelling romance as well as a beautiful story of sisterhood, grief, and finding home. Learn more about the audiobook from Julia Whelan in our recent narrator webinar.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel, read by John Lee, Dylan Moore, Arthur Morey, Kirsten Potter

Mon, 02 May 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The four narrators who deliver Emily St. John Mandel’s newest novel create a mesmerizing listening experience full of time shifts. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the audiobook full of interlocking storylines that call back to the author’s STATION ELEVEN and THE GLASS HOTEL. John Lee effortlessly transports listeners to 1918 British Columbia, while Dylan Moore brings a perfect mix of malaise and inertia to her characterization of a woman living in 2020 New York. Kirsten Potter shines as she takes listeners on an ill-fated book tour at the start of a 2200s pandemic, with insights that cut close to home. And Arthur Morey’s beautiful, haunting narration of a man from a moon colony ties the story together. Curious listeners can learn more about the audiobook from Arthur Morey in AudioFile’s recent narrator webinar.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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The Welcoming Library and AudioFile Magazine

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss a new initiative to help I’m Your Neighbor Books grow their signature project, The Welcoming Library. The Welcoming Library is a touring collection of 30 picture books that connects readers with stories of immigrant families. Robin and Jo discuss the need for incorporating authentically-voiced audiobooks into the collection, and how Playaway’s Wonderbook editions allow for seamless reading and listening experiences. AudioFile is proud to support this important community project, and we invite you to support it, too.

Learn more about AudioFile’s collaboration with I’m Your Neighbor Books.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. In Moscow an unknown author approaches a publisher, asking him to read and publish his manuscript. The narrator agrees to read it before the author returns three months later. At the heart of the story in the manuscript is a love triangle and themes of corruption, concealed love and fatal jealousy. When one of the central characters is discovered dead, the narrative becomes a murder-mystery as the search for the culprit begins. Written by Chekhov in his early twenties, The Shooting Party is his only full-length novel. It is read by the prolific and popular narrator Nicholas Boulton. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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BRINGING UP BOOKMONSTERS by Amber Ankowski, Andy Ankowski, read by Khristine Hvam

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Khristine Hvam brings energy to her narration of Amber and Andy Ankowski’s audiobook of tips and tricks for parents hoping to raise children with an appetite for reading. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the playful and practical advice that will resonate with young parents—and possibly grandparents. Hvam’s bright and encouraging performance makes the activities she describes sound accessible and entertaining.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Peter Wickham reads Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Best known for its star-studded 1951 film version, Quo Vadis was first published in 1896 and contributed to the author’s Nobel Prize for Literature of 1905. Set in the latter years of the reign of Roman Emperor Nero, the plot concerns the love between a young Christian woman, Lygia, and a Roman patrician, Marcus Vinicius. Sienkiewicz was said to have been inspired to write the novel when visiting the Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis, and the novel is strongly imbued with a pro-Christian sentiment, along with many detailed descriptions of the opulence and debauchery of Nero’s Rome. It is informative, exciting and ultimately uplifting! To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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Celebrating 1,000 Episodes of Behind the Mic

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Tune in as host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten celebrate 1,000 episodes of Behind the Mic! Listen to hear why we decided to create a podcast to recommend the best audiobooks to listeners. Jo and Robin also share thoughts and highlights from favorite author and narrator interviews from over the years.

Find thousands of audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Listen to Leon Nixon’s AudioFile Earphones Award-winning performance of My Bondage and My Freedom by Frederick Douglass. In My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) Douglass lays bare his story, illuminating the plight of slaves, the overwhelming prejudices of the time, and the dignity and determination that led to his emancipation. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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IMAGINE IF . . . by Ken Robinson, Kate Robinson, read by Kate Robinson

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Kate Robinson, daughter of the late Sir Ken Robinson, narrates this concise version of their strategy to revolutionize education. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Robinson’s vision to unlock creative energy and human potential. Kate speaks precisely in a standard English accent, but despite the academic nature of the topic, her admiration for her father and her confidence in their educational philosophy ring through. Father and daughter enthusiastically urge academia to cultivate individuality and adopt new educational paradigms designed to empower students to create a sustainable future.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Margery Allingham, already a successful crime writer, was living quietly in the Essex village of Tolleshunt D’Arcy (‘Auburn’) when the Second World War broke out. Her house became an Air Raid Wardens’ post and a First Aid centre, and Allingham herself became responsible for 275 East London evacuees in a rural community of just over 600. Commissioned by American publishing friends to recount what life was like, she began The Oaken Heart in the autumn of 1940, when the Battle of Britain gave way to the London Blitz. An evocative first-hand account of day-to-day realities in a small community upended, The Oaken Heart is read by Georgina Sutton. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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EMILE AND THE FIELD by Kevin Young, read by Kevin Young

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

In a warm voice filled with wonder, poet Kevin Young reads his ode to finding peace and belonging in nature. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the special gift of sharing an audiobook with children. Kevin Young is a celebrated poet, the New Yorker’s poetry editor, and now director of the National Museum of African American Culture in Washington, DC. In this story, Emile is a young boy who falls in love with a field and chronicles its changing seasons as he spends time there. Young listeners should follow along with the picture book to appreciate the illustrations, and to be inspired to seek out their own magical corners of the natural world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Narrated by Adam Sims, Looking Backward is a dynamic rejection of industrial capitalism, and presents a depiction of a socialist utopia. The novel’s protagonist, aristocrat Julian West, falls into a deep hypnotic sleep in 1887 and wakes up in the year 2000 to find a very different Boston from the one he knows. In Dr Leete he finds a guide who explains the humane and efficient society in which he now finds himself – its transformation made possible by political and technological advances. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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ANIMAL FARM by George Orwell, read by Rupert Degas

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

A gifted mimic and clever narrator, Rupert Degas brings Orwell’s classic satire vividly to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Degas’s marvelous narration. What stays with the listener is his ability to endow Orwell’s animal characters with their own distinct sounds and accents — their individuality elevates the narration. This witty and engaging send-up of authoritarianism’s perils comes at an opportune time. These days Orwell’s anti-Stalinist fable rings true, and the audiobook satisfies on every level.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. The Book of Margery Kempe is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother and mystic from Norfolk. Known as the earliest autobiography in the English language, it contains intimate portraits of people and places, and a remarkable eye for detail, as it traces the transformation of a self-described ‘sinful wretch’ to a holy pilgrim. It is read by Lucy Scott. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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THANK YOU, MR. NIXON by Gish Jen, read by Justin Chien, Catherine Ho, Annie Q, Eunice Wong

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

A quartet of narrators excels in delivering Gish Jen’s linked stories, which chronicle the years since Nixon’s 1972 visit to China. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss how each narrator inhabits their characters well, bringing the interwoven stories to life for listeners. Their deliveries of these immersive and clever works match just the right voices, cadences, and tones to their stories. It makes for a rewarding listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Today in Literary History – April 21, 1816 – Charlotte Brontë is born. The eldest of the three Brontë sisters, her novels include The Professor, Shirley, Villette and Jane Eyre. One of the greatest love stories ever written, Jane Eyre is the tale of a young woman entangled with the powerful Mr Rochester. What lurks in the attic at Thornfield, the ancestral home of the surly Mr Rochester? Will the governess Jane Eyre discover his secret – and having discovered it, live to regret that knowledge? Find out in Amanda Root’s captivating recording. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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SAVING YELLOWSTONE by Megan Kate Nelson, read by Cynthia Farrell

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Cynthia Farrell’s crisp voice suits Megan Kate Nelson’s fascinating history of Yellowstone, the world’s first national park. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Farrell’s intelligent narration of this history of the Reconstruction era. It is told through three central figures: the financier Jay Cooke, the geologist Ferdinand Hayes, and the courageous Sitting Bull, who led his Lakota people in resisting the incursions on their lands. Farrell narrates with intelligence, a careful cadence, and an actor’s dramatic style.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Sir Francis Bacon, sometimes known as the father of empiricism, was one of the major political figures of his day. Bacon wrote widely, but it is the Essays for which he is best known. Deftly written and often displaying a cutting wit, they cover a wide range of subjects including death, love, marriage, ambition and atheism. The Essays are read by the celebrated narrator David Timson. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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LESSONS FROM THE EDGE by Marie Yovanovitch, read by Marie Yovanovitch

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Former ambassador and long-term Foreign Service officer Marie Yovanovitch narrates with a clear purpose and a sure sense of pacing and timing. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Yovanovitch’s narration of her memoir on her 33 year career in the foreign service. He explains that it acts as a kind of primer for recent history, with a focus on Russia and Ukraine. Both authoritative and prescient, she supplies the backstory on how the invasion came to be. It’s a compelling listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. The Poetic Edda is the most important collection of Norse-Icelandic mythological and heroic poetry, covering the creation of the world and the coming of Ragnarok, The Doom of the Gods. The mythological poems are an exploration of the wisdom of gods and giants, and tell of the adventures of the god Thor, against hostile giants, and rivalries amongst the gods. Many of the poems pre-date the conversion of Scandinavia to Christianity and give us a glimpse of the pagan beliefs of the North. Gunnar Cauthery (himself of Icelandic heritage) reads Carolyne Larrington’s revised translation. To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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THE CANDY HOUSE by Jennifer Egan, read by a Full Cast

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

The performance of Jennifer Egan’s new novel is exceptional. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss this unusual and absorbing audiobook full of interwoven stories. Michael Boatman narrates the opening chapter, capturing the interior life of the enigmatic Bix Boughton who invents a world-altering technology central to the plot. The time-traveling chapters reprise some of the characters from Egan’s award-winning A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD, but this novel has a wider timeframe, a greater trajectory, and a more complex plot.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Leighton Pugh narrates The Republic by Plato. In it Socrates is asked the question ‘What is justice?’ In order to answer this, he draws a long and detailed analogy between the individual and the city. AudioFile said: ‘[The Republic] can be complex, but [Leighton] Pugh’s fine voice, natural pacing and thoughtful expressiveness help keep the meaning clear, and the 19th-century translation is both graceful and lucid. Pugh’s reading demonstrates that philosophy not only can be comprehensible in audio but also enjoyable.' To learn more, visit NaxosAudioBooks.com

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LOVE & SAFFRON by Kim Fay, read by Kimberly Farr, Cassandra Campbell, Mark Bramhall, Maggi-Meg Reed, Kim Fay [Note]

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Kimberly Farr and Cassandra Campbell perform most of Kim Fay’s epistolary novel, and they couldn’t be better. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this story filled with friendship, love, and deep emotions. Imogen’s column in Seattle’s NORTHWEST HOME & LIFE inspires Joan in L.A. to send a fan letter and a packet of saffron from her travels. Their correspondence grows into a close friendship. Farr gives Imogen a genial voice, and we hear a cheerful smile behind her words. Campbell captures Joan’s youth and enthusiasm. This audiobook is comfort food for difficult times. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. April 16th marks 60 years since the publication of The Golden Notebook, the breakthrough novel of Doris Lessing, the 2007 Nobel Laureate for Literature. Read by Juliet Stevenson, it is a brilliantly realised narrative of fragmentation – social, political, personal and sexual –, and is considered to be one of the most important books of the growing feminist movement of the 1950s. Learn more at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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THE LAST CONFESSIONS OF SYLVIA P. by Lee Kravetz, read by Maggi-Meg Reed, Karissa Vacker, Teri Clark Linden

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Lee Kravetz’s fictional account of Sylvia Plath and her circle of confessional poets is wonderfully performed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss a story of three notebooks containing handwritten notes of Plath’s THE BELL JAR. Points of view shift between Estee, curator of a contemporary auction house; Boston Rhodes, Slyvia’s literary rival; and Ruth Barnhouse, Plath’s psychiatrist. Reed’s cultured tones provide Estee with intelligence and dignity, while Linden’s voice drips poisonously as Rhodes reveals her venomous side. Vacker’s Dr. Barnhouse is forward-thinking, determined, and sympathetic. Well-written and well-read, this is choice listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. The Blazing World is part fiction and part feminist text in which a lady is shipwrecked and seeks to ensure that the Blazing World in which she finds herself is transformed into a Utopia – free of war, sexual discrimination and religious discord. Lucy Scott narrates this fascinating and extravagant combination of what the author herself calls ‘romancical’, ‘philosophical’ and ‘fantastical’. Learn more at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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MISS PEARLY'S GIRLS by ReShonda Tate Billingsley, read by Patricia R. Floyd

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Patricia R. Floyd’s honeyed voice offers exactly the right warmth for this family saga about siblings with secrets and the powerful woman who raised them. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s novel of a family’s estrangement. Something more sinister than the usual family resentments are at play, and Mama Pearly’s sudden illness forces Maxine to contact her sisters to call them home. As deeply hidden secrets make their way to the surface, Floyd’s mellifluous voice and honest performance will captivate listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Read by Robert G. Slade, Two Years Before the Mast is Richard Henry Dana Jr’s captivating account of life as a common sailor on board a merchant ship in the early 1830s. An iconic maritime memoir said to have influenced Herman Melville, it gives a fascinating snapshot of pre-Gold Rush California and remains one of America’s greatest and most vivid seafaring tales. Learn more at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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THE CARTOGRAPHERS by Peng Shepherd, read by Emily Woo Zeller, Nancy Wu, Karen Chilton, Ron Butler, Neil Hellegers, Jason Culp, Brittany Pressley

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

A superb cast of narrators animates Peng Shepherd’s exciting tale of friendships and betrayals, a cartographer’s cabal, maps, murder, and towns that may not be there. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this thrilling literary and cartographic mystery. Emily Woo Zeller narrates as the main character, Nell, a cartographer who discovers what appears to be a worthless map among her late father’s effects. However, the map hides secrets as well as a “phantom settlement” known only to The Cartographers. The additional cast members provide perceptive interpretations of other fascinating, believable characters. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Nicholas Boulton narrates Hide and Seek, Wilkie Collins’s third published novel. Combining charm and excitement, and containing many elements of Collins’s later sensationalist fiction, Hide and Seek follows a mysterious deaf and mute girl known as Madonna, who is rescued from her life as a circus performer. Learn more at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT by Harvey Fierstein, read by Harvey Fierstein

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

This wonderful audiobook is a special treat for those who know and love actor, writer, and director Harvey Fierstein. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss his narration, his distinctive voice, and his singular perspective. Fierstein’s writing is frequently poetic, always awake and aware, smoothly blending with the coarser street speech of his childhood. His wit is without peer. Fierstein recounts his larger-than-life personal and artistic triumphs and failures, telling wildly funny anecdotes throughout. This is a must-listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. The 16th-century Spanish Carmelite nun St Teresa of Ávila was a prominent figure in the Catholic Reformation, and her writings have continued to inspire philosophers, theologians, historians and countless others interested in Christian spirituality and mysticism. She distilled her own experience into the beautifully direct and accessible ‘living book’, The Way of Perfection, a guide for nuns in her convent, with practical advice on how to approach the spiritual life. It is narrated by Lucy Scott. You can find it at NaxosAudiobooks.com

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HELLO, MOLLY! by Molly Shannon, Sean Wilsey, read by Molly Shannon

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

When she was only four, actor and comedian Molly Shannon lost her mother and baby sister in a tragic auto accident that would change her life forever. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the powerful, natural narration Shannon brings to her memoir right from the start. Shannon describes her father’s unique approach to parenting, her career path in acting and comedy, and the creation of some of her most famous characters. Her wholehearted performance in this memoir will inspire listeners with her comedic talents and great success despite the devastating tragedy in her life.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Published in 1791, A Simple Story is Elizabeth Inchbald’s page turner about illicit desire. It concerns Miss Milner, who announces her passion for her guardian, a Catholic priest, thereby breaking through the barriers of his religious vocation and society’s standards for proper female behaviour. A Simple Story anticipates the writing of Jane Austen, especially in Inchbald’s concise and ironic style. It is given a delightful reading by the acclaimed actress Juliet Stevenson. find it at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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DO YOU FOLLOW? by J.C. Bidonde, read by Marnye Young

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Marnye Young inhabits J.C. Bidone’s twisted thriller with flawless pacing and a compassionate tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this tense coming-of-age listen. Alexa leaves the claustrophobic care of her parents to take a job and move to New York City. But something’s wrong, and there’s an ominous feeling suggested by Young’s performance that deepens when Alexa is reunited with her estranged sister, Beth. Young adds palpable tension as the story reveals a dark incident linking the siblings.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Greenleaf Book Group.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. The first part of Willa Cather’s Great Plains trilogy, O Pioneers! follows the tragedies and triumphs of Alexandra Bergson, a strong and independent young woman who inherits the family farm following the death of her father. Alexandra’s passion and shrewd instinct guide her towards success as she resists the challenges imposed by the harsh Nebraskan prairie. Different challenges await her when a former love resurfaces and her brother becomes romantically involved with a married woman. Narrated by Laurel Lefkow, O Pioneers! is a compelling portrait of love versus duty, and the indomitable spirit of America’s pioneer families. You can find it at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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ENOUGH ALREADY by Valerie Bertinelli, read by Valerie Bertinelli

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Actor Valerie Bertinelli gives an affecting narration of her heartfelt memoir about love, family, grief, and food. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the impact of hearing Bertinelli sharing her story on audio. Bertinelli reveals her relationships to food, to her son, and to her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen. She is a delightful storyteller as she shares anecdotes about her television work and remembrances of cooking with her family. A rewarding listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Mariner Books.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Set in the literary and journalistic buzz of late 19th-century London, New Grub Street, narrated by Andrew Wincott, depicts a world that George Gissing knew inside out. Elements of his own experience are diffused in different characters as he explores the sense of crisis for writers at the time: the gulf between aesthetic integrity and commercial success. The Times says: ‘Andrew Wincott captures the multitude of contrasted characters with consummate skill.’ Find it at NaxosAudioBooks.com.

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HEARTBREAK by Florence Williams, read by Florence Williams

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Florence Williams intertwines journal entries, conversations with experts and friends, therapy sessions, and nature sounds to provide an honest and intriguing description of the phenomenon of heartbreak. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the many approaches Williams took to heal from the physical and psychological impacts of her marriage ending after 25 years. Williams explains with honesty and courage the wisdom that can be learned from love lost and loneliness.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos Audio Books. A leading example of the Gothic novel, The Beetle was published in 1897 and significantly outsold Dracula, which appeared in the same year. A polymorphous Egyptian creature – the Beetle – seeks revenge on an eminent British politician for crimes committed against the disciples of an ancient cult. The action takes place within a three-day period in an undisclosed year in the 1800s and is told from the perspectives of four different characters. It is narrated by Gunnar Cauthery, Jonathan Aris, Natalie Simpson and Andrew Wincott, with John Foley. You can find it at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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THE GOLDEN COUPLE by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen, read by Marin Ireland, Karissa Vacker

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Marin Ireland and Karissa Vacker dazzle as they deliver this twisted domestic thriller from literary duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the fantastic narrations that make the thriller even better on audio. Ireland expertly embodies Avery, a razor-sharp therapist who has lost her license for her unconventional methods. Vacker’s layered, emotionally driven portrayal of Marissa, the mysterious other half of the “Golden Couple,” keeps listeners on the edge of their seats.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. Leighton Pugh narrates Poetics/Rhetoric by Aristotle. The Art of Rhetoric, a guide on the principles behind oratorical skill, is a core text on the art of persuasion. Aristotle contends that rhetoric is one of the key elements of philosophy – along with logic and dialectic. The Poetics, the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory, has exerted a huge influence on Western drama and literature. It demonstrates how plot, character and spectacle can be combined to produce maximum impact in drama – and tragedy in particular. Find out more at NaxosAudioBooks.com

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In conversation with Morris Gleitzman, author and narrator

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Celebrated Australian author and narrator Morris Gleitzman spoke with host Jo Reed for today’s bonus episode of Behind the Mic. The Australian Children’s Laureate from 2018-2019 is perhaps best known for his series of books that begins with ONCE, which concluded last year with the heartfelt ALWAYS. Listen to the conversation to gain insights into his moving, humorous, and hopeful books for young listeners, and on narrating his own audiobooks.

Discover reviews of Morris’s audiobooks at AudioFile’s website.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks. April is National Poetry Month. Celebrate with The Great Poets: Walt Whitman– an excellent introduction, and an AudioFile Earphones Award winner. Read by Garrick Hagon, this audiobook contains some of Whitman’s greatest poems, including Crossing Brooklyn Ferry, Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking, and When the Lilacs Gently Bloomed. Find out about it at naxosaudiobooks.com

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IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AND I'M IN MY BATHING SUIT by Justin A. Reynolds, read by Nile Bullock

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Nile Bullock captures the goofy energy of Justin A. Reynolds’s hilarious middle-grade audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the charming Eddie, a 12-year-old who tells listeners all about his perfect plan to escape his chores this summer—and how it goes horribly wrong. Listeners will be laughing as he describes the horrors of laundry (and basements), the sadness of being left behind as everyone else goes to the big Beach Bash (or so he thinks), and the alarm he feels at the power going out (leaving him with nothing to wear but swim trunks). Eddie speaks directly to listeners, and Bullock narrates with a fast, bouncy pace, happily taking listeners down Eddie’s many meandering tangents, and off on an adventure around the neighborhood. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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PILAR RAMIREZ AND THE ESCAPE FROM ZAFA by Julian Randall, read by Amanda Alcántara

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Amanda Alcántara’s vivacious narration embodies the sarcastic voice of 12-year-old Pilar Ramirez in an audiobook that blends the poetry of images and the music of language. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to Julian Randall’s middle-grade debut packed full of adventure. Pilar dreams of finding her missing cousin, who disappeared as a teen in the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo dictatorship. While investigating for her documentary, she’s magically transported into a supernatural world called Zafa full of fantastical beings—and dangerous villains. Alcántara makes dialogue sparkle, humor warm, action speedy, villains threatening, and Pilar an unforgettable, bighearted heroine. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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This episode of Behind the Mic is sponsored by the audiobook editions of Sherryl Woods’s Sweet Magnolias series. With the new season available to watch now on Netflix, now is the time to listen to the entire Sweet Magnolias audiobook series, all brought to you by Dreamscape Media. For more information about Sweet Magnolias, please visit www.dreamscapepublishing.com

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ALL MY RAGE by Sabaa Tahir, read by Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, Kausar Mohammed

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

A stellar trio of narrators delivers the alternating viewpoints in Sabaa Tahir’s contemporary young adult novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this moving story from the author of the EMBER IN THE ASHES series. Narrator Kamran R. Khan portrays Salahudin, whose vulnerability and poet’s soul shine as he tries to handle his father’s drinking and family debts—and his own tangled relationship with his ex-best friend Noor, played beautifully by Kausar Mohammed. Narrator Deepti Gupta’s deep voice expresses the graceful personality of Misbah, Salahudin’s mother, who also has lovingly guided Noor toward adulthood. The story shifts through their three perspectives, weaving a powerful story about pain, forgiveness, love, and hope. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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A THOUSAND STEPS INTO NIGHT by Traci Chee, read by Grace Rolek

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Grace Rolek draws listeners into Traci Chee’s Japanese-inspired fantasy for teens packed with spirits, adventures, and danger. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and thrills of this audiobook. Otori Miuko has never lived up to her father’s expectations, or those of the restrictive patriarchal society of Awara. Rolek captures Miuko’s spirited voice and longing for more—but when adventure arrives in the form of a transformative curse from a demon, she’s thrust down a new, dangerous path. Rolek enlivens each character, makes the language and world feel real, and keeps up with the fast-paced narrative. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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DELILAH GREEN DOESN'T CARE by Ashley Herring Blake, read by Kristen DiMercurio

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Kristen DiMercurio gives a spirited performance of Ashley Herring Blake’s funny, sexy, and heartwarming queer rom-com. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of coming back to a dreaded hometown, and finding love—while also causing a fair amount of chaos. Photographer Delilah Green fled her hometown as soon as she could, desperate to escape both her stepsister Astrid and painful memories of her late father. When she begrudgingly returns to photograph Astrid’s wedding, she isn’t expecting to fall for Astrid’s best friend, Claire—a sweet single mom who runs a bookstore. DiMecurio smoothly switches between their perspectives, capturing their distinct personalities and leaning into the story’s humor and heart. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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Narrator Rosalyn Landor on all things BRIDGERTON and more

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Rosalyn Landor is a prolific and accomplished narrator with an astounding scope—but she is perhaps best known for her narration of historical fiction and historical romance. Rosalyn sat down with host Jo Reed to discuss narrating Julia Quinn’s beloved BRIDGERTONS series, now in its second season on Netflix, and she speaks about “catching the flavor” of each story to find the right narrative voice. Listen to discover how she got her start in audiobooks and why she adores bringing stories to life for listeners. Discover reviews of Rosalyn Landor’s many excellent works on audio at AudioFile’s website.

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THE BERLIN EXCHANGE by Joseph Kanon, read by Jonathan Davis

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

With a story set against the backdrop of 1960s Berlin and the height of the Cold War, narrator Jonathan Davis helps build the tension, creating a dark atmosphere of suspicion and suspense. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Davis’s versatile narration of Joseph Kanon’s latest thriller. This audiobook features Martin Keller as he takes part in a spy swap and is moved from an English prison to Berlin, where he hopes to be reunited with his ex-wife and son. Davis’s authentic-sounding pronunciation of names and places sets the scenes, while his excellent pacing amps up the tension. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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MACHIAVELLI FOR WOMEN by Stacey Vanek Smith, read by Stacey Vanek Smith

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Stacey Vanek Smith provides listeners with a playbook for women to succeed in today’s workplace. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss her advice—Vanek Smith reaches back to the 1500s—to Machiavelli—to set the context and build lessons for contemporary working women. She has a fast-paced, conversational tone to deliver helpful strategies for women to carry out negotiations, garner respect, build confidence, and gain support. Winner of the 2022 Audie Award for Business/Personal Development. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Our Audiobook Break podcast is in its 3rd season, and this time listeners are journeying to Pemberley with narrator Alison Larkin as our guide. Enjoy Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with new chapters each week, free on the Audiobook Break podcast.

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IN LOVE by Amy Bloom, read by Amy Bloom

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Positive and genuine, writer Amy Bloom’s husband, Brian, sounds like someone anyone would love to know. Sadly, in 2019 he received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and called on Bloom’s support as he chose to end his life before the disease could. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Bloom’s memoir, which moves between anecdotes of the past and the journey to Switzerland for the couple’s final days together. Bloom narrates and speaks of her great love and devastating loss with equal parts emotional warmth and quiet composure. Her voice is capable and clear, her narration is remarkable, and the memoir is a loving tribute. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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A SUNLIT WEAPON by Jacqueline Winspear, read by Orlagh Cassidy

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Orlagh Cassidy uses her talents with accents and voices to draw listeners into the world of the indomitable Maisie Dobbs. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the latest historical mystery from Jacqueline Winspear. In addition to masterfully delivering the diverse personalities of the returning characters, Cassidy provides a convincing voice for the visiting American First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Winspear, partnered with Cassidy, dramatically conveys the emotional impact of war on the soldiers and their families, introduces listeners to courageous female WWII pilots, and delves into the ways racism impacted Black soldiers stationed in the UK. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE PARTED EARTH by Anjali Enjeti, read by Deepti Gupta

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Deepti Gupta is a wonderful choice for Anjali Enjeti’s powerful historical novel about the violent partition of India. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the moving narration that earned Gupta the honor of Best Female Narrator at the 2022 Audie Awards. Through her delivery, listeners feel sympathy for young Deepa, who is caught in a moment of personal and national confusion. Listeners go from India in the late 1940s to present-day Atlanta, with Gupta carrying the story forward to Deepa’s estranged granddaughter Shan. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Novel Audio.

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AT THE END OF THE WORLD, TURN LEFT by Zhanna Slor, read by Zura Johnson, Caitlin Kelly

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Zura Johnson and Caitlin Kelly’s dual narration captures Zhanna Slor’s story of the challenges of immigrant life and the complexities of family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss the way the two narrator’s voices portray two sisters of an immigrant Russian Jewish family. Johnson reads Masha, called home from Israel to help find her younger sister Anna, played by Kelly, who has vanished from Milwaukee. Her disappearance is at the heart of this literary mystery. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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THE FORTUNE MEN by Nadifa Mohamed, read by Hugh Quarshie

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Actor Hugh Quarshie is a gifted mimic, and he reads with a measured pace that provides this sad historical novel with a sense of inevitably. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Quarshie’s skill narrating Nadifa Mohamed’s work, which is based on real events in Cardiff, Wales, in 1952. Quarshie’s Somali-inflected English and his reading of Arabic offer the protagonist, Mahmood Mattan, verisimilitude, and he does Welsh, Jamaican, and English accents well, placing the listener inside the characters’ minds. The performance gives dignity to the falsely accused protagonist. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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COMEDY COMEDY COMEDY DRAMA by Bob Odenkirk, read by Bob Odenkirk, Steve Rudnick, Leo Benvenuti

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Bob Odenkirk’s timing and comic persona animate this inward-looking memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Odenkirk’s narration of his story, where his Chicago accent and whip-smart sense of humor permeate his reading. He narrates and writes his work with a self-conscious wit, and his audiobook is a candid story of “try, try, and try again” told with panache and a boatload of insider riffs. Best known for his fine work as Saul Goodman, the likable sleaze on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Odenkirk’s memoir is funny and revealing. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE BOOKS OF JACOB by Olga Tokarczuk, Jennifer Croft [Trans.], read by Gilli Messer, Allen Lewis Rickman

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Narrated with clarity and poise by Gilli Messer and Allen Rickman, this audiobook takes more than 35 hours but is worth it. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Alan Minskoff discuss Polish Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk’s sprawling historical novel set in the eighteenth century. Both Messer and Rickman capture the tonality of the language and the author’s elegant writing, and the novel teems with unique characters—including a spiritual presence named Yenta who omnisciently hovers over the proceedings. Outstanding and compelling listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV by Dawnie Walton, read by Janina Edwards, Bahni Turpin, James Langton, and a Full Cast

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0000

Dawnie Walton’s engaging audiobook is narrated with energy and style by a full cast. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this 2022 Audie Award winner in Fiction, a well-imagined take on the music scene of the 1970s. Janina Edwards, who plays central character S. Sunny Curtis, is convincing, thoughtful, and measured. Both Bahni Turpin (Opal) and James Langston (Nev) give their idiosyncratic ’70s rockers nuanced portrayals. The story fires on all cylinders as a pop culture history, a finely imagined story, and a self-reflective search. It’s often laugh-out-loud funny—a grand listening experience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Malcolm Gladwell on the Future of Audiobooks

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 11:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb sat down with author Malcolm Gladwell to talk about audiobooks, podcasts, and where the two meet. Listen to their conversation for Gladwell’s insights into creating immersive audiobooks, his thoughts on where the podcast and audiobook worlds are heading, and more.

Malcolm Gladwell is the host of the podcast Revisionist History and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including TALKING TO STRANGERS. Gladwell is the co-founder and president of Pushkin Industries, an audiobook and podcast production company. Read reviews of his audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

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THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS by Meg Waite Clayton, read by Imani Jade Powers, Graham Halstead

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Imani Jade Powers narrates the bulk of this tale set in 1940s Vichy France, inspired by the true story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss Meg Waite Clayton’s captivating story of Nanné Gold, gutsy American heiress, who serves as a French Resistance postmistress, delivering messages to artists and writers hiding from Nazis. In contrast, Graham Halstead adopts a gritty, sorrowful voice for surrealist Jewish photographer Edouard Moss who, having escaped a Nazi work camp, dreams of reunion with his young daughter and escape from France. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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GARBO by Robert Gottlieb, read by Maria Tucci

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss Maria Tucci’s terrific reading of this examination of the life of Greta Garbo. The author and narrator are husband and wife—he, Robert Gottlieb, is an esteemed writer and editor; she’s an accomplished actor. As a star biography, this is simply one of the best, most entertaining and most insightful. By the end of the biography, we understand Garbo better as a person. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LETTERS PROJECT by Eleanor Reissa, read by Eleanor Reissa

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Eleanor Reissa, a prominent actress and singer in Jewish theater, delivers an intimate account of her journey into her parents’ past. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss Reissa’s mellifluous narration and her quest to make sense of her parents’ lives before her birth, and the Holocaust. After her mother died, Reissa discovered a cache of letters written by her father just after WWII, and she travels to Poland and Germany to discover more about her father and how the war impacted her family. Reissa’s deft narration is personal, immediate, and makes for worthy listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Black Hills Audiobooks.

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THE LEOPARD IS LOOSE by Stephen Harrigan, read by George Guidall

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Avuncular, husky-voiced George Guidall as the 5-year-old protagonist of Stephen Harrigan’s audiobook seems an unusual choice—until you hear his engaging performance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this story inspired by a true event, where a leopard escaped the Oklahoma Zoo in 1953. The 70-year-old Grady McClarty relates the story from the point of view of his 5-year-old self, and Guidall’s sensitive performance makes for a memorable audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE GOODBYE COAST by Joe Ide, read by Vikas Adam

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

A top-notch narration by Vikas Adam transforms the iconic 1940s detective Philip Marlowe into a 21st-century PI. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this new work by Joe Ide and the fun of listening to Adam’s terrific characterizations of all of the characters. Detective Marlowe is thrust into a story filled with violence, family drama, humor, romance, and clever dialogue, all well-handled by Adam—including the shocking ending. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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All about the 2022 Audie Awards

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Join host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb as they celebrate a night full of audiobook excellence at the 2022 Audie Awards! Hear all about the big event, and celebrate the winners of the big prizes for Audiobook of the Year, Best Male and Best Female narrators, and more. If you missed this year’s event, never fear! You can still watch it online and catch the fun of the virtual celebrations.

Visit www.theaudies.com to check out the full list of finalists and winners, listen to sound samples, and read reviews of the excellent audiobooks. Congratulations to all!

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Our Audiobook Break podcast just launched its 3rd season, and this time listeners are journeying to Pemberley with narrator Alison Larkin as our guide. Enjoy Jane Austen’s PRIDE AND PREJUDICE with new chapters each week, free on the Audiobook Break podcast.

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THE TELLER OF SECRETS by Bisi Adjapon, read by Anniwaa Buachie

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Anniwaa Buachie’s talent is phenomenal; her flexibility and skill match the storytelling skill of the author, resulting in a tour-de-force audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Buachie’s musical pacing as she narrates the story of Esi, a Nigerian-Ghanaian girl growing up in the 1960s. Esi’s mother disappeared when she was young, and she is trying to find herself in a world of limits dominated by men. How Esi swims against the tide of the patriarchy is satisfying, and Buachie’s range is impressive as she narrates each character, and conveys Esi’s emotions as she matures. This audiobook is stunningly beautiful and cannot be missed. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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KEEP CALM AND TRUST THE SCIENCE by Luke O'Neill, read by Ruairi Conaghan

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Ruairi Conaghan is a great fit for telling the story of Luke O’Neill, an Irish researcher, author, and science journalist who became a media darling during the pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the audiobook that makes for an intimate view into the first year of the pandemic, through the perspective of an immunologist. Conaghan narrates in his Irish accent, capturing the spirit of the author’s words as he narrates O’Neill’s diary entries from January 2020 to April 2021. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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BITTER by Akwaeke Emezi, read by Bahni Turpin

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Bahni Turpin is the perfect narrator for this YA coming-of-age story about love and revolution from Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this prequel to PET. Seventeen-year-old Bitter finally feels safe at her boarding school for artistic teenagers. She’s initially wary of joining her friends’ protests, but when she calls a terrifying angel out of her drawing, she’s finally drawn into the fight. Every character in this short audiobook has depth, and Turpin skillfully brings each one to life, their voices becoming familiar as listeners are drawn fully into Bitter’s world. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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WAHALA by Nikki May, read by Natalie Simpson

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Natalie Simpson gives a dynamic performance of Nikki May’s fast-paced drama about a trio of Anglo-Nigerian friends in London. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of three women whose lives are disrupted by a new friend, Isobel, and Simpson’s skill at conveying the emotion and intensity of the story. She skillfully switches among British, Nigerian, and French accents, smoothly shifting between perspectives as trouble arises and all of their relationships are at risk. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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I MUST BETRAY YOU by Ruta Sepetys, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini masterfully conveys the unrelenting stress on 17-year-old Cristian Florescu, who lives in Bucharest, Romania in the winter of 1989. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ballerini’s smooth and youthful narration that conveys all the tension of Ruta Sepetys’s story. Cristian agrees to take on an informer role in exchange for medicine to save his ailing grandfather. Instead of relief, Cristian experiences hunger, isolation, and fear, and Ballerini’s pacing enhances the suspense and twists in the first-person narration. A gripping story. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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OPERATION SISTERHOOD by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, read by Kristen Ariza

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Kristen Ariza’s warm and lively narration suits a sweet and funny story of a “patchwork family” learning to live together in Harlem. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this latest delightful middle-grade audiobook from Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, which will appeal to young readers interested in baking, animals, music, stories of summertime adventures, and more! Eleven-year-old Bo loves her quiet life with her mother, and Ariza conveys Bo’s anxiety when she and her mom move into a new, very full and lively home. Listeners will cheer as Bo and her new sisters explore the city, get to know and love one another, and throw a fabulous party to celebrate their new family. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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A IS FOR OBOE: THE ORCHESTRA'S ALPHABET by Lera Auerbach, Marilyn Nelson, read by Thomas Quasthoff

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Thomas Quastoff’s voice has a musicality perfectly suited to this rich alphabet book with a symphonic score. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the joy of hearing the orchestra come alive through lyrical poems by Lera Auerbach and Marilyn Nelson, narrated beautifully by Quastoff. His German-accented baritone moves through alliterative phrases, describing singing piccolos, mournful English horns, and trilling woodwinds. The audiobook is educational but also delves into the emotions of hearing orchestral music—and listeners are treated to representative music for each letter. There’s no better way to experience this book than to hear it. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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HOMICIDE AND HALO-HALO by Mia P. Manansala, read by Danice Cabanela

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Danice Cabanela’s energetic voice welcomes listeners back to Shady Palms in this second delicious installment of the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen cozy mystery series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the lively narration Danice brings to Mia P. Manansala’s fun mystery. Lila’s got a lot on her plate—opening a new cafe, judging her town’s teen beauty pageant, two handsome men interested in her—she really doesn’t need anything more to deal with. But! There’s a suspicious death, and her family member is implicated, so she and her Aunties are on the case. Cabanela’s dynamic narration captures the fun of the story. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA by Axie Oh, read by Rosa Escoda

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Rosa Escoda’s dreamy narration sweeps listeners up into a captivating retelling of the Korean folktale “The Tale of Shim Cheong.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Axie Oh’s new YA fantasy set in the spirit realm. Deadly storms rage along the coast each year, only calming after a sacrifice to the Sea God. When Mina realizes her brother is desperately in love with this year’s “Sea God’s Bride,” Mina plunges into the sea to save her brother’s heart, setting her on a quest to end the storms. Escoda narrates with a British accent, smoothly shifting into Korean. Listeners will love getting lost in this lush, romantic story.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape Media.

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WEATHER GIRL by Rachel Lynn Solomon, read by Sarah Mollo-Christensen

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Sarah Mollo-Christensen captures the lively voice of Ari Abrams, a Seattle weather girl worried about her stormy workplace. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Rachel Lynn Solomon’s swoon-worthy new contemporary romance. Ari and her charming sportscaster colleague Russell come up with an unlikely scheme to fix their toxic workplace—they will “Parent Trap” their divorced bosses back together. Mollo-Christensen’s empathetic narration and melodious voice will pull listeners into the story, and listeners will be rooting for Ari as she opens up to love and heals old wounds. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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WILD SWAN by Patti Callahan, read by Cynthia Erivo

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Cynthia Erivo is nothing short of amazing as she narrates Patti Callahan’s historical novella about Florence Nightingale. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Erivo’s spectacular narration that gets the emotional tone of this story exactly right. Callahan examines a few years of the famous nurse’s life as she struggled with shedding Victorian expectations and fulfilling her calling to reform health care. Opening with Nightingale having a glorious audience with Queen Victoria, the storytelling makes every detail and emotional point shine. Whether it’s the color of a dress or the disapproval from a royal minister, Erivo connects listeners to each scene. An exceptional listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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FAMILY BUSINESS by S.J. Rozan, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Emily Woo Zeller delivers a terrific narration of S.J. Rozan’s newest mystery featuring New York City private eye Lydia Chin and her partner, Bill Smith. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this complex, fast-paced, and witty story that involves an old building threatened by development, Chinatown’s Tong gang, and the historic preservation society. Zeller shows off her skill with dialogue as she takes a very animated approach with the characters in a story involving family secrets, double-dealing, gunshots, and colorful detail on everything from Chinese desserts to funerals. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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HANGSAMAN by Shirley Jackson, read by Julia Whelan

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan narrates a tale of psychological menace and suspense from Shirley Jackson, one of the genre’s greatest writers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Whelan gives listeners all of the elegance of the language, building the emotional suspense exactly as Jackson intended. Whelan’s eager narration works to throw the listener off-balance with a bizarre story that is better heard than read. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE MAID by Nita Prose, read by Lauren Ambrose

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Lauren Ambrose performs Nita Prose’s creatively crafted mystery featuring Molly, a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel who discovers the body of a regular guest in his suite. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this zinger of a mystery with many possible suspects. Lauren Ambrose is exceptional at capturing this propulsive story, giving listeners a sense of all the details, and the emotional cues that Molly doesn’t necessarily pick up on. All the clues in this murder point toward Molly – can she save herself by solving the case? Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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ARSÈNE LUPIN VERSUS HERLOCK SHOLMES by Maurice Leblanc, read by David Timson

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

David Timson masterfully narrates Maurice Leblanc’s entertaining classic mystery in which two formidable opponents match wits. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to this tale of famed English detective Herlock Sholmes called to Paris to investigate a diamond’s disappearance – and the prime suspect is the legendary gentleman thief, Arsène Lupin.Timson keeps the tension high as Lupin eludes and tricks Sholmes, and he imbues Lupin with a bold, canny demeanor. Lupin is the star of more than 30 stories by Leblanc – and inspired the recent Netflix series “Lupin” starring Omar Sy. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

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JOAN IS OKAY by Weike Wang, read by Catherine Ho

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Catherine Ho gives a superb performance of Weike Wang’s audiobook about Joan, a first-generation Chinese-American ICU physician. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss how brilliantly Catherine Ho inhabits the character of Joan, making for a fascinating ride that delves into the psyche of someone who interacts with the world in an unusual way. Joan is grieving the loss of her father while struggling with the direction of her life. Joan is a wary but sharply observant character, and Ho mines the expanse of Joan’s acuity and introspection to depict a complex woman. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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UNPROTECTED by Billy Porter, read by Billy Porter

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Since voice is central to this gripping audio memoir by award-winning performer Billy Porter, it’s only fitting that it’s narrated by the author himself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Porter’s engaging narration and his own specific sound and style that he brings to telling his story. With his inimitable rasp and vocal flexibility, Porter tells of his family, childhood, and career, leading up to his eventual star turns in Broadway’s KINKY BOOTS and TV’s “Pose.” Porter repeatedly refers to his voice as both savior and weapon, but with this audiobook he proves that it's also the ideal medium for sharing his truth. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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RECKLESS GIRLS by Rachel Hawkins, read by Barrie Kreinik

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Barrie Kreinik narrates Rachel Hawkins’s new twisty thriller perfectly. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a fun trip to a remote island in the South Pacific that turns into a nightmare. Kreinik smoothly takes listeners through all of the twists and seamlessly shifts among the characters’ varied accents – a Brit’s clipped consonants, a charming Australian’s broad vowels, and an American’s Southern drawl. As relaxation changes to fear, Kreinik deftly reflects the changing mood. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS by Kal Penn, read by Kal Penn

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Fans will be grateful that Kal Penn narrates his own memoir, because he brings his signature comedy to every moment. Host Jo Reed talks with AudioFile’s Michele Cobb about enjoying Penn’s story, his relaxed narration, and her delight in getting to speak with him in preparation for hosting this year’s Audie Awards. He narrates his memoir with a comfortable style as he switches between stories of growing up a child of immigrants and behind-the-scenes moments on Hollywood sets. Penn has created a unique, honest performance for an enjoyable and informative listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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ANTHEM by Noah Hawley, read by Shiromi Arserio, Noah Hawley

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Shiromi Arserio provides an expressive, youthful, and velvety tone throughout Noah Hawley’s cryptic plot. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss author and screenwriter Hawley’s latest dystopian thriller, set in the near future. Hawley himself speaks during pivotal moments, providing commentary that evokes an existential response. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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In conversation with narrator Davina Porter

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Davina Porter is a Golden Voice narrator, well loved for voicing Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER series and many more. She is known for her attention to detail, keen intelligence, subtle characterizations, and a range of voices and accents. In this bonus episode of Behind the Mic, Davina Porter tells host Jo Reed about the delights and challenges of narrating OUTLANDER, what brought her to the world of audiobook narrations, and her best advice for new and aspiring narrators. Listen in on their conversation, whether you’ve come to love Davina for her work on OUTLANDER, her joyful narrations of children’s audiobooks, or a favorite mystery series.

Discover reviews of Davina Porter’s many excellent audiobook narrations at AudioFile Magazine’s website.

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THE FIFTIES by James R. Gaines, read by James Fouhey

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Blessed with a fine and resonant voice, James Fouhey eloquently performs James R. Gaines’s closer look at the 1950s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Fouhey’s reading style fits the engaging profiles presented here. Gaines explores the decade he defines from 1946 to 1963 through the lens of central movements — gay rights, civil rights, feminism, the environmental movement, and the dawn of computing. Listen to learn about foundational activists and thinkers too often overlooked. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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CHASING HISTORY by Carl Bernstein, read by Robert Petkoff, Carl Bernstein

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Carl Bernstein’s investigative reporting on Watergate changed America for the better—or at least shook Americans out of our complacency regarding politicians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of Bernstein’s career, which started at 16 working at the WASHINGTON STAR. Narrator Robert Petkoff, with an occasional assist from Bernstein, takes listeners back to the beginning, and he sounds like an indulgent grandfather telling his life story to his grandchildren. Petkoff gets into the mind and soul of the youthful, news-loving Bernstein. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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HOW WE EAT by Paco Underhill, read by Adam Barr, Aden Hakimi, Karissa Vacker

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Adam Barr adeptly voices most of Paco Underhill’s informed and informative audiobook about shoppers’ buying and eating habits. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Underhill’s expertise as a food consultant gives this study an insider’s view. Barr narrates with a conversational, intimate style that reflects the author’s insights into how our behavior is manipulated. Listen to learn more about the business of selling food, changes that Underhill is seeing based on the pandemic’s influence, and what he predicts the future of food shopping will look like. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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SMALL WORLD by Jonathan Evison, read by William DeMeritt

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

William DeMeritt narrates Jonathan Evison’s mosaic of a novel, which ties together the 19th-century ancestors of 21st-century characters who are headed for a train disaster. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story with fascinating characters in two distinct time periods. DeMeritt masterfully paces the intertwining stories with a keen sense of drama, smoothly takes on the accents, and adeptly voices the remarkable characters. An enthralling audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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YOU DON'T KNOW US NEGROES by Zora Neale Hurston, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Genevieve West [Eds. & Intro.], read by Robin Miles

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Robin Miles narrates Zora Neale Hurston’s work with empathy and a sure sense of Hurston’s literary voice. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Miles’s talent at presenting Hurston’s essays, which range from stereotyped presentations of African Americans in literature to discussions of segregated education and detailed reporting on the 1952 Ruby McCollum murder trial. Listeners can hear Hurston’s nuances and gain an appreciation for her as a folklorist, literary stylist, and deft journalist.

Robin Miles spoke about narrating Zora Neale Hurston’s work on AudioFile’s recent online event, Hearing History with Black Voices. See the video and learn more about bringing history to life for audiobook listeners.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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STEPHEN FRY'S EDWARDIAN SECRETS by Stephen Fry, John Woolf, Nick Baker, read by Stephen Fry, John Woolf, Nick Baker

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

In a podcast format well suited to audio, the incomparable Stephen Fry gathers together familiar and little-known facts about those irrepressible Edwardians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this companion piece to Fry’s delightful exploration of VICTORIAN SECRETS, presented in 12 lively episodes. Frequently joined by a number of historians, authors, and reenactors, Fry seems to have a wonderful time recounting some of the fascinating arcana of the ostensibly tightly wound Edwardian era. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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THE LADIES' PARADISE by Émile Zola, read by Leighton Pugh

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Leighton Pugh offers an engrossing narration of Émile Zola’s 1883 cautionary tale of capitalism and consumerism. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss how Pugh immerses listeners into the drama surrounding the “Ladies’ Paradise” department store in Paris. Pugh’s Parisian French is faultless as are his voices for the many characters. A fascinating look at nineteenth-century capitalism and changes in culture, class relations, and sexual attitudes.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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EAST LYNNE by Ellen Wood, read by Rachel Atkins

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Rachel Atkins is a lively narrator for Ellen Wood’s 1861 melodrama. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss how Atkins handles the characters, plots, and subplots with aplomb. Lady Isabel Carlyle leaves her husband and children for a cad, and when she’s abandoned by her lover, returns in disguise as governess to her own children. Atkins juggles the love affairs, secrets, false identities and more and keeps the story fun for listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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CHARLOTTE SOPHIA by Tina Andrews, read by Adjoa Andoh

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adjoa Andoh delivers an intriguing epic journey through 50 years in the life of Charlotte Sophia, the first Moorish queen of England and wife of “mad” King George III. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss the engaging, theatrical narration Andoh brings to this new recording. Andoh shifts smoothly between emotions as she voices Charlotte caring for her sick husband, attempting to pass anti-slave-trade legislation, and dealing with blackmail, murder, depravity, and insanity. The audiobook is enlightening – Andoh is amazing. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, WITH SONGS FROM REGENCY ENGLAND by Jane Austen, read by Alison Larkin

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Alison Larkin makes listening to Jane Austen’s classic an experience not to be missed. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss the fun of Larkin’s narration; she sounds as if she can’t wait to tell a delicious story. Larkin’s sparkling performance is a perfect fit for audio. Starting on February 15th, you can hear the complete audiobook of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, WITH SONGS FROM REGENCY ENGLAND on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast. Subscribe now so you won’t miss a single chapter. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Alison Larkin Presents.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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AIN'T BURNED ALL THE BRIGHT by Jason Reynolds, read by Jason Reynolds, Nile Bullock, Tatum Marylin Hall, JaQwan J. Kelly, DePre Owens

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this newest audiobook from the always-inspiring Jason Reynolds. He deftly narrates “Take One” of this collaboration between himself and mixed-media collage artist Jason Griffin, bringing slam poetry sensibilities to a brief yet evocative glimpse into the life of an unnamed young Black narrator full of anxieties for his family. As Reynolds’s singular voice fades out, “Take Two” hands the same spare, moving words to a full cast of brilliant narrators. An amazing adaptation of a beautifully illustrated novel.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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AARON SLATER, ILLUSTRATOR by Andrea Beaty, read by Sullivan Jones

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Upbeat, soulful jazz greets listeners as narrator Sullivan Jones’s warm, reassuring voice blends the lyrical rhymes and vibrant imagery in Andrea Beaty’s encouraging children’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this latest story in the “Questioneers” series, this time centered around Aaron Slater, a second grader full of courage and imagination who struggles with reading. Jones makes the most of the brief production, creating a hopeful, engaging experience with strong characterizations, a bold delivery, and deliberate pacing.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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A SPINDLE SPLINTERED by Alix E. Harrow, read by Amy Landon

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Amy Landon’s lively narration unites present-day Ohio and Perceforest, a fairy-tale realm, in Alix. E Harrow’s immersive reimagining. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this novella that explores the Sleeping Beauty story from the perspective of Zinnia Gray, a chronically ill 21-year-old who has been given “weeks, not months” to live. On her birthday, Zinnia is transported into a world resembling one of her beloved Sleeping Beauty stories. The story is told through Zinnia’s perspective, and listeners absorb her sense of urgency as she and the Princess Primrose venture out into the fairy-tale world to change their fates.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GODDESS by Sue Lynn Tan, read by Natalie Naudus

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Natalie Naudus narrates Sue Lynn Tan’s sweeping, romantic saga inspired by Chinese mythology. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Naudus’s skill at bringing this fantasy to life for listeners. Xingyin was raised on the moon by her mother Chang’e, but makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom to try and earn her mother’s freedom. Naudus captures Xingyin’s blossoming confidence and continued determination, even as she faces down mythical creatures and myriad threats in battle.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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CALL US WHAT WE CARRY by Amanda Gorman, read by Amanda Gorman

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman delivers her collection of poetry with precision and purpose. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss listening to Gorman performing her work, which offers her perspective on current social and global issues and delves into history. Gorman calls forth hope and light amid every hardship that fills our present-day lives. Closing with a powerful recitation of her 2021 inaugural poem, she reminds listeners “to rise” and create a better tomorrow for America.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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DAGGERS DRAWN by Maxim Jakubowski [Ed.], read by Maxwell Caulfield, Gabrielle de Cuir, Justine Eyre, Alex Hyde-White, John Lee, Juliette Mills, Kate Orsini, John Rubinstein, Stefan Rudnicki

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Nineteen prize-winning crime and mystery short stories are narrated by nine highly experienced voice actors. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to stories published from 1985 to 2020, compiled by Maxim Jakubowski. While the deep tones of Stefan Rudnicki and John Lee may be the most familiar to listeners, all the narrators vocally embrace these stories filled with tantalizing twists and surprising conclusions. Revel in the mastery of short stories by outstanding writers of mysteries and thrillers.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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NEVER by Ken Follett, read by January LaVoy

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

January LaVoy narrates Ken Follett’s epic novel packed with interconnected plots and political intrigue. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss LaVoy’s skill capturing the voice of each character, keeping listeners engaged and attuned to the story. It’s a cautionary tale that strikes on a visceral level as global misunderstandings snowball into the threat of nuclear war. Listeners will be riveted as the unimaginable becomes possible, and LaVoy’s narration becomes unpausable.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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ONCE UPON A WARDROBE by Patti Callahan, read by Fiona Hardingham

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Fiona Hardingham showcases her great range in her enchanting and touching narration of Patti Callahan’s historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this must-listen for every fan of Narnia and C.S. Lewis. The story is set in 1950s Worchester and Oxford, England, and Megs Devonshire is on a mission to discover the origins of Narnia for her young brother, George. Hardingham’s heartfelt and emotive performance captures the power of books for the listener.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Muse.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasis audio.com.

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MADAM by Debby Applegate, read by Erin Bennett

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Erin Bennett’s spirited narration breathes life into Debby Applegate’s richly detailed biography of America’s most celebrated brothel keeper, Polly Adler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile Magazine’s Robin Whitten discuss Adler’s life during the Jazz Age as told by Applegate. Adler is a fascinating, colorful figure, and Bennett, who clearly knows a good story when she has one, gives the narration her all. This lively slice of social history is sure to appeal to many listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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THE JOY AND LIGHT BUS COMPANY by Alexander McCall Smith, read by Bianca Amato

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Bianca Amato, a South African actress, gives listeners an opportunity to once again enjoy the wit, warmth, and wisdom of Precious Ramotswe in the latest No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of hearing a new narrator take on Alexander McCall’s Smith’s long-running series. Detective Mma Ramotswe deals with a shaky business plan, a son concerned about his inheritance, and child exploitation. A rewarding listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME by Kekla Magoon, read by Tyla Collier

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Tyla Collier delivers Kekla Magoon’s narrative of how centuries of abuse to Black Americans led to deep unrest and the founding of the Black Panther Party. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this National Book Award finalist for Youth literature. The Black Panthers’ “power to the people” was less about militancy and more about gaining equity in education, health care, justice, and politics and seeking gender equality. Listeners young and old alike will be affected by the audiobook’s emotive tone, tragic events, and parallels to recent events.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Sign up for a live talk with narrators about REVOLUTION IN OUR TIME and more excellent nonfiction audiobooks on January 25th. Register for Hearing History with Black Voices on Zoom.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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COMFORT ME WITH APPLES by Catherynne M. Valente, read by Karis Campbell

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Karis Campbell narrates a chillingly familiar story taking place in an unexpected setting called Arcadia Gardens. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Catherynne M. Valente’s slim thriller that is expertly narrated and will definitely ramp up your heart rate. Sophia and her husband are perfect for each other. In fact, everything is perfect – or is it? As the story unfolds, Campbell shifts her narration from poised to frantic as Sophia unravels after discovering awful truths. A tense and compelling listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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THIRTY TALKS WEIRD LOVE by Alessandra Narváez Varela, read by Alessandra Narváez Varela

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Alessandra Narváez Varela narrates her own poignant, evocative young adult novel in verse. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this expressive novel that is inspired by the author’s own life growing up in Juarez. Anamaria is a Mexican 13-year-old from Juarez who meets her 30-year-old self and wants nothing to do with her. Thirty gives strange advice, and isn’t the doctor that Anamaria wants to be, but a poet and teacher. This listen is resonant, transformative, and impactful.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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WILL by Will Smith, Mark Manson, read by Will Smith

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Will Smith tells all in this memoir of his spectacular journey from growing up in Philadelphia to his career as a rap star, and then as a Hollywood movie mogul. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the surprisingly relatable story Smith shares, and the power of hearing his story in his own words. His charisma comes through as he narrates both lighthearted moments and deeper revelations.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Family Media, the home of Oasis Audio, Enclave Audio, Paperback Classics, and Hollywoodland audio books.

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MIRACLE AND WONDER by Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, Paul Simon, read by Malcom Gladwell, Paul Simon

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

A fine example of an audio autobiography and biography from Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, and Paul Simon. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this intimate and conversational audiobook that is full of music, letting listeners hear Paul Simon’s stories told through songs. Malcolm Gladwell intersperses historical and biographical facts that give greater context to the musician’s comments. The work is a window on one individual, and on the concept of musical genius.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion, The Nancy Drew Diaries, The Boxcar Children, and other great children’s classics. Visit oasisaudio.com.

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LOOK FOR ME AND I'LL BE GONE by John Edgar Wideman, read by Dion Graham, Janina Edwards

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham delivers John Edgar Wideman’s discursive stream-of-consciousness stories in a powerful, resonant style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Wideman’s compelling combination of memoir, fiction, and essays, told sometimes in a stream-of-consciousness style that gives listeners insights into life as a Black American. Janina Edwards contributes to the narration as well, helping to bring these semi-autobiographical fictions luminously to life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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THE LAST WINTER by Porter Fox, read by Jeremy Arthur

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Jeremy Arthur strikes the right balance between dramatic storytelling and a journalistic tone in Porter Fox’s remarkable audiobook about climate change. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this audiobook that features author Fox’s globe-trotting climate reporting, which includes stops in the Cascades, Alaska, Greenland, and Switzerland. He interviews experts and aficionados ranging from glaciologists to alpinists to help him suss out the crushing facts of rising oceans, calving glaciers, and hottest temperatures. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

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A THOUSAND TRAILS HOME by Seth Kantner, read by Dan Bittner

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Dan Bittner narrates Seth Kantner’s eloquent evocation of life in the Alaskan outback in the clearest of tones and an assured style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Bittner’s voice expresses the elemental beauty and fierce exigencies of growing up in the wilds of the tundra, accompanied by the planet’s vastest herd of caribou. Kantner bears witness to how his home state—and especially the noble arctic caribou—are being challenged by modernity and climate change. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE PROMISE by Damon Galgut, read by Peter Noble

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Born in South Africa, narrator Peter Noble eloquently delivers an inspired performance of this compelling audiobook from Damon Galgut, which won the 2021 Booker Prize. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this novel that unpacks three generations of South African white people as they adjust—or don’t—to changes in their class system and political power. Noble is adept at voicing the characters, capturing the nasal tones and tight sounds, and he masterfully paces this novel. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Europa Editions.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE 1619 PROJECT by Nikole Hannah-Jones, The New York Times Magazine, Caitlin Roper, Ilena Silverman, Jake Silverstein [Eds.], read by Nikole Hannah-Jones and a Full Cast

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Nikole Hannah-Jones, herself a persuasive narrator, has brought together a remarkable mosaic of voices, stories, and poems that tell the story of America through the lens of slavery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the impressive collection of history, journalism, and creative fiction works, all delivered on audio by outstanding narrations. The variety of voices and views deepens listeners’ understanding of U.S. history and how it has been presented. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE VANISHED DAYS by Susanna Kearsley, read by Robert Ian Mackenzie

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Ian Mackenzie narrates a sweeping romance set against the early years of the Jacobite cause in the mid-1700s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss Susanna Kearsley’s tale rich in history, politics, and religion, as well as love and loyalty. A young widow’s claim to collect her husband’s death benefit sets off an inquiry into its legitimacy, and while investigating, Adam Williamson is taken by her beauty and seeming sincerity. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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RICCARDINO by Andrea Camilieri, Stephen Sartarelli [Trans.], read by Grover Gardner

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Grover Gardner creates a wonderful narration for the final episode of Andrea Camilieri’s bestselling Inspector Montalbano series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss the metafictional twist that plunges Montalbano and author Camilieri into the heart of the novel’s action. Gardner deftly slips between “the author” whose books made Montalbano a famous TV detective and Montalbano himself as they are drawn into a murder mystery. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

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OUR COUNTRY FRIENDS by Gary Shteyngart, read by Rob Shapiro

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Rob Shapiro deftly narrates this Chekhovian study of Sasha, a Russian-American writer; his Russian-American wife, Masha, a psychiatrist; and their precocious 8-year-old adopted daughter, Natasha. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel talk about this story set during the start of the Covid pandemic, when a group of friends is invited to stay at an upstate NY bungalow colony “until the threat of the virus is gone.” While the novel contains many elements of a comedy of manners, its impact is elevated by skillful presentations of the challenges facing first-generation Americans. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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WISH YOU WERE HERE by Jodi Picoult, read by Marin Ireland

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Marin Ireland takes listeners on a journey they won’t soon forget. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel discuss this novel concerning Diane, a woman whose long-awaited dream vacation to the Galapagos becomes something very different when the Covid pandemic hits. Ireland sounds truly flummoxed as Diana’s luggage is lost, her wi-fi becomes spotty, and money runs low. Ireland is utterly believable as Diana slowly connects with quarantined island locals, awakens to the beauty around her, and begins to reassess her life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE SENTENCE by Louise Erdrich, read by Louise Erdrich

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Louise Erdrich never disappoints in this engrossing, beautifully written novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Erdrich’s engrossing and often funny narration. Tookie works at Birchbark Books, Erdrich’s own bookstore, and Tookie is being haunted by the ghost of her most annoying customer, Flora. Erdrich chronicles the dwindling awareness of Native language and identity, the ever-present specter of white supremacy, George Floyd’s murder, and the Covid pandemic. A masterful performance of a marvelous novel. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS by Ryka Aoki, read by Cindy Kay

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Cindy Kay masterfully narrates this unique audiobook, which combines a variety of genres to tell a moving story of self-acceptance and finding safety even in the bleakest of times. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about getting completely absorbed in Ryka Aoki’s audiobook featuring interstellar wars, a violinist’s deal with a demon, and donuts. Listeners dip into the minds of many characters over the course of the audiobook, but Kay keeps listeners on track with her melodic voice, spot-on pacing, and respectful, authentic accents. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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A SNAKE FALLS TO EARTH by Darcie Little Badger, read by Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Kinsale Hueston

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Shaun Taylor-Corbett and Kinsale Hueston give lively, animated performances in this Young Adult fantasy celebrating friendship and the power of storytelling. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Darcie Little Badger’s new novel that centers around Nina, a Lipan Apache teenager, and Oli, an animal-person from the spirit world. Hueston voices Nina with a teenager’s bubbly energy, and Taylor-Corbett captures the otherworldly wisdom and humor of the cottonmouth snake-person and many other animal beings. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE KOREAN VEGAN COOKBOOK by Joanne Lee Molinaro, read by Joanne Lee Molinaro

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Joanne Lee Molinaro narrates her cookbook in a warm and welcoming voice, sharing both mouthwatering recipes and poignant, funny, and powerful stories of her family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss listening to cookbooks on audio, Molinaro’s captivating family stories, and the delicious recipes within the audiobook. It is a sampling of her print book, giving listeners a taste of her recipes interwoven with family lessons on making food and caring for others. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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THIS IS EAR HUSTLE by Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods, read by Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods, et al.

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Ear Hustle, hosted by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, is an award-winning podcast produced inside San Quentin State Prison, and audio is the natural format for a book about a podcast. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this behind-the-scenes look at the making of Ear Hustle, which also includes new interviews not yet featured on the podcast. The conversations with incarcerated people reveal their innate humanity, coping strategies, regrets, and hopes. Listen, regardless of whether you’re a regular listener of the podcast or not.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for the podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection.

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STUNTBOY, IN THE MEANTIME by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, and a full cast

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

With endless energy, verve, and style, Guy Lockard is a total superstar narrating this middle-grade novel about Portico Reeves, aka Stuntboy, supported by a full cast and a dynamic production. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the newest audiobook from Jason Reynolds, whose funny, smart, and empathetic writing meets kids where they are. Portico, voiced by Nile Bullock, loves living in his apartment building, but every time he catches his parents arguing, he feels “the frets.” So, he and his best friend Zola, voiced by Angel Pean, come up with his superhero alter ego who can help save his parents AND defeat their bully neighbor. A unique audio experience on AudioFile’s list of 2021 Best Audiobooks!

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

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Interview with Natalie Naudus: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Natalie Naudus joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about THE HEART PRINCIPLE, Helen Hoang’s contemporary romance that Naudus co-narrated with Brian Nishii. THE HEART PRINCIPLE is one of AudioFile’s 2021 Best Romance Audiobooks, and it’s an emotionally demanding but ultimately rewarding audiobook. Natalie tells Michele about what she enjoys about narrating romance audiobooks, and how she prepared for the intense emotional journey of this title.

Read AudioFile’s full review of THE HEART PRINCIPLE at audiofilemagazine.com

Published by Dreamscape.

2021 Best Romance Audiobooks:

THE HEART PRINCIPLE by Helen Hoang, read by Natalie Naudus, Brian Nishii

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

THE PERKS OF LOVING A WALLFLOWER by Erica Ridley, read by Moira Quirk

REEL by Kennedy Ryan, read by Eboni Flowers, Jakobi Diem, Nicole Small

THE SEGONIAN by Dianne Duvall, read by Kirsten Potter

SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams, read by Mela Lee

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

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Interview with Louis Ozawa: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Louis Ozawa joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss FACING THE MOUNTAIN, Daniel James Brown’s examination of Japanese American heroes in World War II. FACING THE MOUNTAIN is one of AudioFile’s Best History & Biography Audiobooks of the year, and it shines much-needed light on the way those of Japanese heritage were treated during WWII. Louis’s deft narration makes the stories even more compelling and harder to forget. Louis tells Robin about what has stayed with him about narrating this audiobook and how he prepared for the performance. Read our full review of FACING THE MOUNTAIN at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Penguin Audio.

2021 Best History & Biography Audiobooks:

FACING THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel James Brown, read by Louis Ozawa

FOUR HUNDRED SOULS by Ibram X. Kendi, Keisha N. Blain [Eds.], read by JD Jackson, Kevin R. Free, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, Dion Graham, Angela Y. Davis, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and a Full Cast

SOMERSETT by Phillip Goodrich, read by Robert Petkoff, Joe Morton, Simon Jones, Euan Morton, Nicola Barber, Phillip Goodrich [Note & Afterword]

TOM STOPPARD by Hermione Lee, read by Steven Crossley

TONY HILLERMAN by James Morris McGrath, read by George Guidall

YOU DON'T BELONG HERE by Elizabeth Becker, read by Lisa Flanagan

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal, a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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Interview with Amir Abdullah: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Amir Abdullah joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about BLACK BOY JOY, edited by Kwame Mbalia and written by 17 Black male and non-binary authors. BLACK BOY JOY is one of AudioFile’s 2021 Best Children & Family Listening Audiobooks, and it’s a lively celebration of the power of joy in Black boys’ lives. Amir, who co-narrated the audiobook with Taj Leahy, tells Michele the fun of narrating audiobooks for kids and families and the special preparation that went into voicing so many characters and a variety of stories from incredible authors. The narrator’s engaging delivery of genres ranging from realistic fiction to poetry to sci-fi and fantasy will appeal to many middle-grade and YA listeners. Read AudioFile’s full review of BLACK BOY JOY on our website. Published by Listening Library.

2021 Best Children & Family Listening Audiobooks:

ALWAYS by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman

BLACK BOY JOY by Kwame Mbalia [Ed.], read by Amir Abdullah, Taj Leahy

KALEIDOSCOPE by Brian Selznick, read by Gwendoline Christie, Brian Selznick [Note]

STUNTBOY, IN THE MEANTIME by Jason Reynolds, read by Guy Lockard, Nile Bullock, Angel Pean, James Fouhey, Soneela Nankani, Leon Nixon, Chanté McCormick, Lamarr Gulley, DePre Owens

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR by Eric Carle, read by Kevin R. Free, Eric Carle

WE ARE STILL HERE! by Traci Sorell, read by Garrett Abel, Jacob Cummings, Mary Kay Henderson, Lauren Hummingbird, Don McClellan, Ella Mounce, Kaitlyn Pinkerton, Isobel Shults, Oliver Shults, Carlos Sorell, Tonia Hogner-Weavel, Traci Sorell

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

Amir Abdullah photo by Patrick Maus.

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Interview with Karen Chilton: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Karen Chilton joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to talk about narrating EARTHA & KITT, Kitt Shapiro’s memoir on her love of her mother. EARTHA & KITT is one of AudioFile’s Best Memoir Audiobooks of the year, and Karen gives it a superb and moving performance. Karen tells Robin about preparing to bring Kitt Shapiro’s words to life, and how her background in jazz informed her approach to this memoir about growing up with entertainment icon Eartha Kitt. Read AudioFile’s full review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Dreamscape.

2021 Best Memoir Audiobooks:

THE BOYS by Ron Howard, Clint Howard, read by Ron Howard, Clint Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard

EARTHA & KITT by Kitt Shapiro, Patricia Weiss Levy, read by Karen Chilton

JUST AS I AM by Cicely Tyson, Michelle Burford, read by Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Robin Miles

MY BROKEN LANGUAGE by Quiara Alegría Hudes, read by Quiara Alegría Hudes

SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER by Ashley C. Ford, read by Ashley C. Ford

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

Karen Chilton photo by James Alexander.

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Interview with Ray Porter: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Ray Porter joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to tell listeners about his experience narrating PROJECT HAIL MARY, Andy Weir’s newest sci-fi bestseller. PROJECT HAIL MARY is one of AudioFile’s 2021 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks, and it’s a thrilling interstellar adventure. Ray gives Michele an inside glimpse into preparing the many voices deployed in this space opera and tells her what has stayed with him about bringing it to life. Read the full review of the audiobook at audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Audible, Inc. Curious listeners can take a peek into Ray's recording studio in his narrator video on PROJECT HAIL MARY.

2021 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks:

BLACK WATER SISTER by Zen Cho, read by Catherine Ho

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir, read by Ray Porter

REMOTE CONTROL by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Adjoa Andoh

RULE OF COOL by Matthew Siege, read by Felicia Day

THE SANDMAN: ACT II by Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs [Adapt.], read by James McAvoy, Neil Gaiman, Kat Dennings, Michael Sheen, David Tennant, John Lithgow, and a Full Cast

VAGRANT QUEEN 1 by Magdalene Visaggio, Jason Smith, read by Nanette Savard and a Full Cast

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Tarzan and the Ant Men, the tenth in the complete Authorized Tarzan collection.

Ray Porter photo by Travis Hodges.

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Interview with Isabella Star LaBlanc: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Isabella Star LaBlanc joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss Angeline Boulley’s thrilling debut, FIREKEEPER’S DAUGHTER, one of AudioFile’s picks for the year’s best Young Adult audiobooks. Isabella tells Robin about getting her start in audiobook narration and what has stayed with her about narrating this powerful audiobook. Set amid state and tribal lands in Michigan, this thriller, romance, and action-packed adventure is told with heartfelt compassion. For the full audiobook review, visit audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Macmillan Audio.

2021 Best Young Adult Audiobooks:

ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS by Rainbow Rowell, read by Euan Morton

CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas, read by Dion Graham

FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc

REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

SIX CRIMSON CRANES by Elizabeth Lim, read by Emily Woo Zeller

WHEN WE MAKE IT by Elisabet Velasquez, read by Elisabet Velasquez

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

Isabella Star LaBlanc photo by Nicole Feest.

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Interview with Richard Ferrone: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Richard Ferrone joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about narrating OCEAN PREY, John Sandford’s 31st audiobook in his Prey series. OCEAN PREY is one of AudioFile’s 2021 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks, and Richard tells Michele about narrating this long-running audiobook series, including how to keep all the tough guys as unique characters for the listener. Sandford’s action-packed scenes, as delivered by Richard Ferrone, keep listeners on edge. For a full review of the audiobook, visit audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Penguin Audio.

AudioFile’s 2021 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks:

BLOOD GROVE by Walter Mosley, read by Michael Boatman

THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, read by Louise Brealey, Kobna Holdbrick-Smith

THE MURDER ON THE LINKS by Agatha Christie, Kate McAll [Adapt.], read by Alfred Molina, Simon Helberg, and a Full Cast

THE NIGHT GATE by Peter May, read by Peter Forbes

OCEAN PREY by John Sandford, read by Richard Ferrone

VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Gisela Chípe

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of the 2020 Christian Book Award for Best Audiobook, Chasing Vines, find your way to an immensely fruitful life.

Richard Ferrone photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty-Images.

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Interview with Rebecca Lowman: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rebecca Lowman joins AudioFile’s Robin Whitten to discuss UNDER A WHITE SKY: The Nature of the Future, written by Elizabeth Kolbert. UNDER A WHITE SKY is one of AudioFile’s Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks of 2021, and Rebecca Lowman narrates with the sense of immediacy required while also bringing energy and intelligence to the task. Rebecca tells Robin about what has stayed with her about narrating this audiobook, and what goes into narrating a nonfiction work about our environmental future. For a full review of UNDER A WHITE SKY, visit audiofilemagazine.com. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

AudioFile’s 2021 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks:

BEGINNER'S MIND by Yo-Yo Ma, read by Yo-Yo Ma

FUZZ by Mary Roach, read by Mary Roach

THE SECRET OF LIFE by Howard Markel, read by Donald Corren

UNDER A WHITE SKY by Elizabeth Kolbert, read by Rebecca Lowman

YOU ARE WHAT YOU RISK by Michele Wucker, read by Tavia Gilbert

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Heavenly Mortal a suspenseful story of the battle between light and darkness by Jack Cavanaugh.

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Interview with Dion Graham: 2021 Best Audiobooks

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about HARLEM SHUFFLE, Colson Whitehead’s historical heist novel and one of AudioFile’s picks for the best in this year’s fiction audiobooks. Graham tells how his own knowledge of the neighborhoods and locations in New York City informed his performance, and how he got the 1960s speech patterns down to make the story come to life for listeners. Graham embodies the audiobook’s many characters vividly, hitting all the rhythms and nuances of Whitehead’s outstanding period novel. Read the full review of HARLEM SHUFFLE on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

AudioFile’s 2021 Best Fiction Audiobooks:

THE ALEXANDRIA QUARTET by Lawrence Durrell, read by Nicholas Boulton

APPLES NEVER FALL by Liane Moriarty, read by Caroline Lee

CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr, read by Marin Ireland, Simon Jones

HARLEM SHUFFLE by Colson Whitehead, read by Dion Graham

THE LOVE SONGS OF W.E.B. DU BOIS by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, read by Adenrele Ojo, Karen Chilton, Prentice Onayemi

MATRIX by Lauren Groff, read by Adjoa Andoh

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks and sound clips from each title, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of the TERRA IGNOTA science fiction series by Ada Palmer. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Discount prices reflected on product pages at GraphicAudio.net

Dion Graham photo by Max Flatow.

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AudioFile’s 2021 Best Audiobooks

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

AudioFile Magazine is celebrating the Best Audiobooks of 2021! Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten give a peek behind the scenes into the making of this year’s list of Best Audiobooks. We commend all of the narrators and all those working behind the scenes to create memorable and moving audiobooks for us all. Tune in to our podcast all this week and next for interviews with some of the voices behind this year’s audiobook winners.

For the full list of 2021 Best Audiobooks, visit: audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring DARK HORSE COMICS dramatized adaptations of X, Ghost, The Mask and Living With The Dead. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Find out more at GraphicAudio.net

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WHERE THE DEER AND THE ANTELOPE PLAY by Nick Offerman, read by Nick Offerman

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Actor, humorist, woodworker, and writer Nick Offerman narrates his wandering and insightful travelogue with self-effacing wit and an engaging style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the fun and funny audiobook packed with stories and insights. His storyteller’s voice is just right for an audiobook focused on hiking, running, walking, and road-tripping during the pandemic in an enormous Airstream. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Graphic Audio. Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of the TERRA IGNOTA science fiction series by Ada Palmer. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Discount prices reflected on product pages at GraphicAudio.net

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TASTE MAKERS by Mayukh Sen, read by Tovah Ott

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Tovah Ott delivers this unique narrative with focused intelligence, skillfully sharing Mayukh Sen’s stories of seven immigrant women who influenced American cooking and dining. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed that the audiobook is an eye-opening revelation. Narrator Ott reveals the personalities, travails, and successes of each of the women, and author Sen ably tells their disparate stories with rich details of how each came to food and evolved their specialities. Don’t listen hungry! Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Graphic Audio. Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring DARK HORSE COMICS dramatized adaptations of X, Ghost, The Mask and Living With The Dead. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Find out more at GraphicAudio.net

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THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, Dion Graham

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Three distinguished narrators tell this cross-country adventure from the celebrated author Amor Towles. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the exceptional performances from Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, and Dion Graham. Billy Watson, a precocious 8-year-old portrayed by Ballerini, dreams of traveling to California on the Lincoln Highway. He and his brother hit the road, but life takes more turns than any roadway ever could, and they begin a series of adventures involving sundry characters. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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SILENT EARTH by Dave Goulson, read by Dave Goulson

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Entomologist, bumblebee expert, and public scientist Dave Goulson narrates this audiobook in a pleasing British accent and non-dogmatic tone. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the audiobook’s emphasis on how important insects are to our environment. Goulson presents his case for immediate and drastic action with the authority of a scientist who knows whereof he speaks, does the work, and shares his knowledge in a nuanced and balanced way. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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KNOWN AND STRANGE THINGS by Teju Cole, read by Peter Jay Fernandez

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Peter Jay Fernandez’s performance combines a clear and resonant voice with an ear for language as he narrates Teju Cole’s essays. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss these essays that wander the world from New York City to Gaza, Europe to South America. Cole reacts to literature and politics, but his finest work is surely on photography. Frenandez’s gift for mimicry is apparent as he voices many great luminaries quoted in this thought-provoking audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE BOYS by Ron Howard, Clint Howard, read by Ron Howard, Clint Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Entertainment icon brothers Ron and Clint Howard share a memoir that doesn’t stray far from being a sincere loving tribute to their late Midwestern parents and grandparents for the values they instilled. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this personal shared narration as the Howards tell of their lives at home, and their journey into acting and directing careers in the 1950s and 1960s and beyond. A delight, and a must-listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE BOOK OF HOPE by Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams, read by Douglas Abrams, Jane Goodall

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Douglas Abrams’s resonant voice sounds peaceful and strong as he interviews the 87-year-old naturalist in this invitation to take action against the perils of our time. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this audiobook told in a friendly and conversational interview format where Goodall and Abrams find hope in the human determination to survive. They touch on global warming, terrorism, attacks against democracy, widening gaps between haves and have-nots, and the threat of future pandemics. An engaging listen, and a call to action. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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GAME ON: TEMPTING TWENTY-EIGHT by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Lorelei King returns to bring life to Evanovich’s characters and joy to listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss all the fun of reconnecting with the much loved characters, including bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, her pal Lula, and irrepressible Grandma. This 28th in the series follows the successful formula for the whole series: Stephanie gets herself into ridiculous situations as she pursues her list of bond-skipping criminals. Fans will be delighted. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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A LINE TO KILL by Anthony Horowitz, read by Rory Kinnear

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Deep-voiced narrator Rory Kinnear hits the performance sweet spot for this mystery that doesn’t take itself all that seriously. Anthony Horowitz is both the author and a character in this British mystery, and AudioFile contributor Sandi Henschel shares her thoughts on it with host Jo Reed. Former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and Horowitz, his sidekick scribe, are invited to a literary festival in the quiet English Channel island of Alderney—where murder ensues. An entertaining listen for fans of the series, though it also makes for a fun stand-alone. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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A LITTLE DEVIL IN AMERICA by Hanif Abdurraqib, read by JD Jackson

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

No wonder Hanif Abdurraquib’s collection of lyrical essays—thoughtful, beautifully written, and intelligently performed by JD Jackson—is a finalist for the National Book Award. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Abdurraquib’s essays and Jackson’s skill at bringing them to life. Abdurraquib focuses on Black life, Black performance, and Black exceptionalism, and Jackson delivers each small gem with as much delight as there is anger and pain behind the words.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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SHELF LIFE by Nadia Wassef, read by Vaneh Assadourian

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Listeners will delight in this memoir by the strong-willed and always opinionated Nadia Wassef, one of the co-owners of Diwan, a group of independent bookstores founded in Cairo in 2002. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed how the strong voice of the author comes through so well through the narrator, Vaneh Assadourian, that she had to keep checking to make sure it wasn’t narrated by the author herself. The structure walks listeners through various sections of the bookstore, exploring the business as they start, grow, and expand to multiple locations. Assadourian brings forth the enthusiasm and feisty determination of this passionate advocate for intellectual freedom and women’s rights. An uplifting and memorable listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY by Brandy Colbert, read by Kristyl Dawn Tift, Brandy Colbert

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Brandy Colbert’s first nonfiction work for teens, which opens with the award-winning African American author narrating her foreword. Kristyl Dawn Tift then vividly narrates a contextual account of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a tragic event often omitted from history books. Colbert’s direct, stirring writing and Tift’s sensitive but straightforward narration reveal how linked events led to a complicated web of violence, explaining connections such as those between the police and the KKK. Colbert ends with a poignant afterword that draws chilling connections between the past and the present. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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WHEN WE MAKE IT by Elisabet Velasquez, read by Elisabet Velasquez

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Elisabet Velasquez narrates her debut novel-in-verse for teen listeners with vividness, honesty, and poignancy born of her life experience and performance expertise. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this captivating audiobook told in short, powerful, and energetic vignettes. Like her heroine, Sarai, Puerto Rican American Velasquez grew up in Bushwick and knows what it’s like to be poor amidst gentrification. Sarai is working hard to discover her identity despite intense struggles, and repeated titles and lines serve as haunting refrains. The book slams into you in audio—it’s a story meant to be heard, and with the author’s specific voice and rhythms. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Qian Julie Wang, read by Qian Julie Wang

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Qian Julie Wang captivates listeners with this poignant and powerful memoir. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this Civil Rights Attorney's story that absolutely should be heard in the author’s own voice. Wang vividly describes living with her family in poverty and fear in New York City as undocumented immigrants from China. While often heartbreaking, Wang’s writing is sparse yet beautiful. Her deeply personal and affecting performance compels one to keep listening even through the most painful moments of her family’s struggle to survive. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU by Sally Rooney, read by Aoife McMahon

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Aoife McMahon’s voice makes the conflicts of Irish millennials beautiful in Sally Rooney’s messy world. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this tableau of friends—Eileen, Alice, Felix, and Simon—who are wrestling with relationships, mental health, politics, and the purpose of life. McMahon’s musical Irish voice enhances the story, and she brings a flair for storytelling and vocalization to this narration. She makes her transitions between points of view with the lightness of a lark, and Rooney’s peerless descriptions imprint upon the mind’s eye. A hopeful millennial journey shines through McMahon’s performance. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, read by Rebecca Front, Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and a full cast

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the joy of hearing GOOD OMENS once more in a full-cast, unabridged production! Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s fan favorite comes to life with this new recording. Rebecca Front’s narration perfectly matches the wry, dry, very British humor. A star-studded cast chimes in with character dialogue—including Michael Sheen and David Tennant reprising their roles from the streaming TV series as an angel and demon duo trying to avert the apocalypse. Listen as Armageddon approaches, much to the horror of Aziraphale and Crowley, and enjoy the wild ride. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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THE LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera, read by Frankie Corzo

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Frankie Corzo narrates Donna Barba Higuera’s sci-fi thriller with the perfect combination of gusto and tenderness. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the upper-middle-grade listen that takes you off into space with Petra—after Earth has been destroyed. Petra’s family is supposed to be crossing the universe to a new life on a recently discovered planet, Sagan, but when she wakes alone after hundreds of years in stasis, a frightening group of fanatics have taken over the ship and erased all memories of Earth… except hers. Corzo keeps the high-tension story humming as Petra uses her stories and her bravery to fight to save humanity and infuses her descriptions of Sagan with delighted wonder. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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PLAYING THE CARDS YOU'RE DEALT by Varian Johnson, read by Dion Graham

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Dion Graham makes every audiobook he narrates into a special event, and his charisma just overflows in this one about Ant, a 10-year-old boy from South Carolina. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Varian Johnson’s newest middle-grade audiobook about Ant’s obsession with winning the community’s spades tournament—and getting his father’s hard-won approval despite changes at home. When Ant’s best friend and spades partner is grounded, he finds an unexpected partner in Shirley, the new girl in school. Graham imbues each character with personality, but the standout is his vivid portrayal of the omniscient narrator watching Ant’s struggles. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mc comes from Graphic Audio. Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind. Try a radically different audiobook! Dramatized adaptations produced with a full cast, cinematic music and sound effects. Action packed productions like you never heard before. Savings of up to 60% Off this month! Discount prices reflected on product pages at GraphicAudio.net

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THE PERKS OF LOVING A WALLFLOWER by Erica Ridley, read by Moira Quirk

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Moira Quirk brings an easy charm to a queer Regency romance between bluestocking Philippa York and rakish master of disguise Thomasina “Tommy” Wynchester. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the fun of listening to Moira animate all the many characters in this audiobook, including the clever women of Philippa’s beloved reading circle and Tommy’s remarkable family. Tommy always sounds full of confidence—except when she’s near Philippa. When a case of plagiarism brings the two together, Tommy dons the disguise and bravado of Baron Vanderbeen, finally giving her the courage to approach Philippa. Quirk amplifies the humor and the romance as the two work together and slowly discover a deep attraction that absolutely sparkles on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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MATRIX by Lauren Groff, read by Adjoa Andoh

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Adjoa Andoh’s masterful narration channels the power running throughout Lauren Groff’s latest. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the National Book Award Finalist novel about Marie de France, half sister of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is sent to a decrepit, far-flung abbey in England. Andoh allows listeners to fully experience the nuns’ rich personalities, using an impressive range of accents, timbers, and rhythms throughout. Above all, it is her depiction of Marie that shines most brightly. This resonant and authentic narration honors the novel and makes for a truly compelling audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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ALWAYS by Morris Gleitzman, read by Morris Gleitzman

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author Morris Gleitzman returns to narrate a well-paced, heartfelt final adventure featuring Felix Salinger in the seventh installment of his series spanning WWII to the present day. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about the thrill of hearing Gleitzman narrate the work. Wassim, a biracial 10-year-old boy living with his uncle in Eastern Europe, turns to Felix, now in his 80s, for help in dealing with a group terrorizing his family. Alternating between Wassim’s and Felix’s points of view, Gleitzman’s comforting voice bolsters listeners as they encounter virulent injustice, racism, and other challenging subject matter. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THE GREAT MISTAKE by Jonathan Lee, read by Graham Halstead

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Andrew Haswell Green’s life and death lingered in obscurity until it was revived through this fascinating audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Graham Halstead’s smooth narration that makes the story come alive. Green’s murder was the tragic ending to the life of a key architect of Central Park, the New York Public Library, and more. His shooting was never solved, but Jonathan Lee tries to fill in the blanks. Halstead’s superb narration serves as a light into Green’s psyche. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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EARTHA & KITT by Kitt Shapiro, Patricia Weiss Levy, read by Karen Chilton

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Entertainment icon Eartha Kitt’s daughter, Kitt Shapiro, offers a stirring and nuanced memoir of her mother and herself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss narrator Karen Chilton’s performance that is evocative, moving, and makes listeners believe in the connection between mother and daughter. Eartha insisted that her daughter travel with her wherever she performed, so Kitt went everywhere with her from an early age and then became her manager for many years. The love shared by mother and daughter is most palpable throughout the transfixing narration. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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BETTER OFF DEAD by Lee Child, Andrew Child, read by Scott Brick

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Scott Brick returns to perform the justice-seeking, iron-man Jack Reacher. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this latest that will appeal to the authors’ many fans. Brick’s voicing of Reacher brings listeners right into Jack’s thoughts as he makes his way to the West Coast and gets distracted on the Arizona-Mexico border by an ex-Army woman looking to rescue her brother. Brick ratchets up the tension in an audiobook full of action. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE 130-STOREY TREEHOUSE by Andy Griffiths, Terry Denton, read by Stig Wemyss

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Stig Wemyss’s outstanding narration, accompanied by awesome sound effects and ambient music, animates the zany antics in this tenth audiobook of the beloved Australian series by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to this imaginative performance. Treehouse residents Andy and Terry and their friend, Jill, introduce listeners to the 13 fantastic new levels of their treehouse, including a soap-bubble blaster, a time-wasting level, and a toilet paper factory. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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CLOUD CUCKOO LAND by Anthony Doerr, read by Marin Ireland, Simon Jones

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Marin Ireland and Simon Jones sparkle as they narrate this immersive time-travel novel from Anthony Doerr. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the story presented with five interlocking plots from the fall of Constantinople to present day Idaho, and into the future. Marin Ireland narrates the majority of the audiobook and is splendid with a multitude of accents, while Simon Jones brings a welcome voice in his British accent. Doerr’s novel pulls out all the stops, and the narrators create an enduring listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

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TASTE by Stanley Tucci, read by Stanley Tucci

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Stanley Tucci narrates his moving, funny, heartwarming, and gut-wrenching audiobook with vigor and style. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Tucci’s skills as a performer. Listeners who are looking for mouthwatering stories about food will not be disappointed. Delightful pastas, sauces, and signature cocktail recipes are shared. But he also delves into the story of his family, and into his battles with throat cancer, and his conversational style makes the listener feel as though he is speaking directly to the audience.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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TALK TO ME by T.C. Boyle, read by Stacey Glemboski

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Stacey Glemboski performs T.C. Boyle’s unique audiobook about the power of human love for an animal with a convincing style and unswerving fairness. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Glemboski’s skill at bringing an unusual story to life, centered around a love triangle between a researcher, an assistant, and Sam the chimp, who has learned to communicate with sign language. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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L.A. WEATHER by María Amparo Escandón, read by Frankie Corzo

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Frankie Corzo’s lovely smooth voice eloquently depicts the mostly female characters in María Amparo Escandón’s novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her skill with the high drama, emotional undertow, and cultural complexity of the story set in 2016. It is centered on the inner lives of the Alvarados, a disintegrating Mexican American family in fictional Rancho Verde, where there’s a severe drought. Secrets are concealed and revealed in this intricately plotted novel. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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APRIL IN SPAIN by John Banville, read by John Lee

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator John Lee delivers a well-constructed, ably paced, and stylish performance of John Banville’s elegantly written mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Lee’s Irish intonations that help bring the characters to life. Lee’s portrayal of the garrulous pathologist, Quirke, sets the tone. Quirke and his Austrian wife are vacationing in San Sebastian, Spain, when he sees a woman named April—long thought to be murdered years ago. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harlequin Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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In conversation with actor and narrator Alfred Molina

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews renowned actor Alfred Molina. He’s a chameleon, with amazing versatility in the characters he plays on stage, on film and television, and in the recording booth. Jo and Molina discuss his work on audiobooks, including the new full-cast audio adaptation of Agatha Christie’s THE MURDER ON THE LINKS. Listen in to hear about Molina’s approach to choosing what projects to work on, when he first knew he wanted to be an actor, and behind-the-scenes insights into many favorite productions.

Discover reviews of Alfred Molina’s audiobooks at AudioFile Magazine’s website.

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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VELVET WAS THE NIGHT by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Gisela Chípe

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Gisela Chípe successfully juggles the many characters and subplots in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s exciting mystery set in 1970s Mexico. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss the fun of listening to this mystery from the author of the bestselling MEXICAN GOTHIC. The story focuses on Maite, a lonely secretary with an active imagination, and Elvis, a conflicted enforcer for a group of thugs paid by the government to keep down student protests and civil unrest. Maite’s life takes a thrilling turn when the neighbor she agrees to cat-sit for never returns. An artful narration by Chípe and an ingeniously plotted thriller by Moreno-Garcia make this prime listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THIS SHINING LIFE by Harriet Kline, read by Mary Jane Wells, Jenny Sterlin, et al.

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

An ensemble of talented narrators enhances the humanity of the family members in Harriet Kline’s beautifully conceived novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss the emotional story of a family deeply affected by the terminal illness and death of a loved one. After Rich is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, the shock reverberates throughout the lives of his family, exploring each character’s point of view. All of the narrations are top-notch. A moving audiobook and a must-listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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PUTTING IT TOGETHER by James Lapine, read by Adam Grupper, Alyssa Bresnahan, Eva Kaminsky, T. Ryder Smith, Graham Winton, Len Cariou

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adam Grupper is impressive as he portrays writer-director James Lapine in this audiobook that is part oral history, part memoir, and part description of the making of a musical. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this tale of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Alyssa Bresnahan, Eva Kaminsky, T. Ryder Smith, and Graham Winton provide the voices for the 40 people interviewed about the making of the show, expressing conflicting memories, personal anecdotes, and varying points of view. Len Cariou portrays a raspy-voiced Sondheim. A perfect fit for audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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DAUGHTERS OF SPARTA by Claire Heywood, read by Mira Dovreni

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Mira Dovreni’s narration of Claire Heywood’s reimagining of the Trojan War from the points of view of Klytemnestra and her sister, Helen, will enthrall lovers of mythology. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Dovreni’s performance, including her excellent storytelling skills and Greek pronunciations. The novel’s focus is on women and their place in society rather than on the war. Dovreni makes each poignant moment ring true, and Heywood makes us wonder: Was Helen solely to blame for the Trojan war? Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THE OTHER PASSENGER by Louise Candlish, read by Steven Mackintosh

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Nothing is exactly what it seems in Louise Candlish’s expertly plotted mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Steven Mackintosh’s chilling performance. Jamie and Claire live well off Claire’s income, and due to extreme claustrophobia, Jamie commutes to work by boat. He begins a friendship of sorts with a fellow commuter and shen she disappears, Jamie is suddenly the focus of a police investigation. Candlish brings extraordinary psychological insights into play, and Mackintosh delivers the emotions. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THE ARCHER by Shruti Swamy, read by Sneha Mathan

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Sneha Mathan mesmerizes listeners with Shruti Swami’s coming-of-age novel set in 1960s and ’70s Bombay. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the emotional tale of Vidya, a young girl whose mother has died by suicide and who is left to help her father and raise her brother. Longing for her absent mother, Vidya immerses herself into kathak, a rigorous traditional dance, through which she can finally express herself. Mathan’s pleasing voice and understated performance are the perfect match for Vidya’s quiet strength in the face of prejudice. An immersive production.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Workman Publishing.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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WHEN GHOSTS COME HOME by Wiley Cash, read by JD Jackson

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

JD Jackson’s performance is particularly skillful as he shifts among the multiple points of view of key characters in Wiley Cash’s tense thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook set in a North Carolina beach town in the 1980s. Sheriff Winston Barnes is struggling with his political rival Badley Frye when he gets dragged into an unusual case with a crashed plane and a Black man who has been shot. Details are scarce, and Winston soon clashes with his opponent in the upcoming election, as well as with the father of the deceased man. Jackson captures the sheriff’s frustration, fear, and need for justice.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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COLORFUL by Eto Mori, Jocelyne Allen [Trans.], read by Brian Nishii

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Brian Nishii delivers a flawless narration of Eto Mori’s classic Japanese bestseller, translated by Jocelyne Allen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a soul getting a new chance at life, inside another’s body. A dead soul wins a lottery, and an angel named Prapura guides the soul as it occupies the body of a 14-year-old who recently attempted suicide. The soul must learn from its past mistakes in order to be reincarnated. Nishii nimbly varies his tone between serious and comical and displays a masterful ability to imbue each scene with heartfelt emotions. As an added bonus, listeners can hear from Brian Nishii about his experience narrating the audiobook in his video for AudioFile.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THE TURNOUT by Megan Abbott, read by Cassandra Campbell

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Rarely will listeners find a dark contemporary novel so exquisitely narrated that it becomes an instant classic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Cassandra Campbell’s pitch-perfect narration of Megan Abbott’s audiobook full of tension and devastation. Campbell portrays the story of two sisters, Dara and Marie, who are carrying on the legacy of the Durant School of Dance, started by their mother. They hire a contractor, Derek, who becomes Marie’s unhealthy obsession--but Dara is suspicious of him. Campbell vividly captures the world of ballet and the paranoia and family secrets.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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THE VANISHING POINT by Elizabeth Brundage, read by Fajer Al-Kaisi, Robert Petkoff, Saskia Maarleveld, Michael Crouch, Joana Garcia

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

With beautifully developed characters and expertly intertwined storylines, a talented team of narrators captures the emotions in Elizabeth Brundage’s compelling listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook that is part romance and part mystery. Five points of view lead listeners through a story that takes place over two decades. Julian and Ry met as photography students at the prestigious Brodsky Workshop. They compete in photography and for the love of a fellow student, Magda. Two decades later, Rye’s proclaimed dead, but there is no body, and a multilayered thriller unfolds.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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WE ARE STILL HERE! by Traci Sorell, read by Garrett Abel, Jacob Cummings, Mary Kay Henderson, et al.

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A full cast of Cherokee, Navajo, Choctaw, and Chickasaw narrators deliver a moving audiobook companion to Traci Sorell’s informative picture book. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook that takes young listeners from the history of treaty-making between Native nations and the U.S. Government up to the present. Twelve students recite brief presentations in youthful voices on topics including Assimilation and Tribal Activism as sound effects and music evoke the bright illustrations. Each presentation ends with a chorus of voices proudly declaring: “We are still here.” An excellent resource for classrooms, and for family listening.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Live Oak Media.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic Podcast comes from Blackstone Publishing, publisher of bestselling and award-winning books and audiobooks by fantastic writers and narrators.

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MAYA AND THE ROBOT by Eve L. Ewing, read by Bahni Turpin

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Bahni Turpin embraces every emotional moment in this inspiring story for middle grade science and IT enthusiasts. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed about the fun of listening to Maya’s story all about friendship--and robots! Maya is excited to be starting 5th grade, until she discovers her best friends are in a different class. She struggles with loneliness and self-doubt, but she discovers a homemade robot named Ralph who helps inspire her to be herself and do good in the world. Turpin infuses the diverse characters with distinct and relatable personalities, creating a memorable listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. James Joyce's Finnegans Wake: In the rich nighttime and the language of dreams, here are history, anecdote, myth, folk tale and, above all, a wondrous sense of humor, colored by a clear sense of humanity. In this exceptional reading by the Irish actor Barry McGovern, with Marcella Riordan, the world of the Wake is more accessible than ever before.

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WHITE SMOKE by Tiffany D. Jackson, read by Marcella Cox

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Marcella Cox’s warm voice draws listeners into the story of Mari, a Black teenager getting a fresh start in a town full of secrets. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Tiffany D. Jackson’s creepy tale of hauntings and hidden histories. Mari and her blended family have just moved from California to a Midwestern town where they get a house for free, courtesy of her mom’s new job. They hadn’t realized it would be on a street full of burned-down houses, or that they’d hardly get a warm welcome. Cox amplifies Mari’s anxiety and her fear as horrors unfold, and listeners will be riveted.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Roy McMillan delivers Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote quickly and crisply, an approach that allows the listener to focus on its humor.

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BOMBSHELL by Sarah MacLean, read by Mary Jane Wells

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Mary Jane Wells bursts onto the scene in BOMBSHELL, the first entry in Sarah Maclean’s newest historical romance series, Hell’s Belles. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of this romance, and getting to hear the story of the most scandalous of the Talbot sisters, Lady Sesily Talbot. Sesily learns to use her reputation to her advantage when she joins a team of women working in secret to take down society’s worst men. Caleb Calhoun is a handsome and cool-voiced American with a mysterious past who seems immune to her many charms. Wells skillfully amplifies the tension as the two finally give in to long pent-up feelings while Caleb tries to protect Sesily from danger.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Neil Wenborn's Confucius – In a Nutshell: Opening with delightfully mood-setting music, narrator Nigel Carrington takes the reins and uses his well-modulated authoritative voice to transmit the time-tested wisdom of the great philosopher.

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REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt makes a triumphant return to narrate this thrilling sequel to RAYBEARER. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Jordan Ifueko’s brilliant YA duology and how Abbott-Pratt brings it to life for listeners. Tarisai is now empress of Aritsar, and she is reckoning with its disturbing legacy and facing daunting tasks. Tarisai’s strength and the love of her friends shine in Abbott-Pratt’s compelling narration. Listening to the audiobook provides an added bonus, with beautiful songs and chants woven throughout.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. On September 27, 1825, the Stockton-Darlington Railway inaugurated its first steam engine-powered trip, carrying passengers and coal. More Great Inventors and Their Inventions explores the creation of eight great innovations, and the minds behind them. Narrator Benjamin Soames' unhurried tones of quiet wonder add drama to the stories of men who influenced history with their gadgets. Even listeners who don't usually choose nonfiction audio will find something to fascinate them.

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THE MURDER ON THE LINKS by Agatha Christie, Kate McAll [Adapt.], read by Alfred Molina, Simon Helberg, and a Full Cast

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This adaptation of a classic Agatha Christie whodunit to a vintage radio drama format is absolutely delicious. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how this totally diverting Golden Age mystery comes to life on audio, complete with sound effects and perfectly balanced music. Alfred Molina’s Poirot is punctilious and obsessive, but also warm and funny as he sorts out a blindingly baroque murder plot and keeps insisting the answer is totally obvious.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by L.A. Theatre Works.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Today in Literary History -September 24, 1896 – F. Scott Fitzgerald is born. Only receiving critical acclaim after his death F. Scott Fitzgerald is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Canadian actor William Hope reads Naxos AudioBooks’ first unabridged production of Fitzgerald’s classic novel of the Roaring Twenties, The Great Gatsby. Michael Adams, School Library Journal, writes, "It is a book that deserves a perfect reading, and though numerous other narrators have tried—(William) Hope may have come closest to achieving this perfection.

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NAPOLEON by Ruth Scurr, read by Tanya Cubric

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Ruth Scurr, one of our most original and engaging historians, reconstructs Napoleon’s life from the perspective of the gardens he kept, first as a military cadet and later on Elba and St. Helena. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this refreshing look at Napoleon. Narrator Tanya Cubric’s clear, light voice captures with particular spirit and grace a portrait that comes to life here fresh and richly highlighted and shaded.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Naxos recommends Honoré de Balzac’s Colonel Chabert, "Bill Homewood’s reading, as always, is first class."

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TROY by Stephen Fry, read by Stephen Fry

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

With this final title in his Greek trilogy, Stephen Fry himself narrates “Troy” with unbounded enthusiasm and high energy. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Fry’s deep voice and rich accent are perfect for these conversational retellings of classical tales. The audiobook makes an ideal companion for listeners of classical works such as THE ILIAD, available now in AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Chronicle Books.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Sholem Aleichem's tales of Tevye the Milkman inspired "Fiddler on the Roof" which opened on Broadway, September 22, 1964. AudioFile says, "Neville Jason's performance makes Tevye's Yiddish wit, wisdom, and melancholy utterly believable." and the Naxos AudioBooks production, "Delightful listening."

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DAUGHTER OF THE MORNING STAR by Craig Johnson, read by George Guidall

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator George Guidall performs Book 17 in the Sheriff Walt Longmire series with all of his masterful storytelling talent on display. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how George’s familiarity with all of the characters helps listeners feel like they know them, too. The sheriff and his partner-in-justice, Henry Standing Bear, are requested by Tribal Police Chief Lola Long to investigate death threats sent to her niece, a talented basketball player. They also are called upon to look into past disappearances, and the story draws attention to the true tragedies of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. A standout in the series for story and performance.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Today we celebrate the birth of H.G. Wells and encourage you to discover, or re-discover, these science fiction classics through the talents of narrators Roger May, Daniel Philpott, and Jonathan Keeble, keeping Wells' imagined future alive for a new generation.

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THE HERON'S CRY by Ann Cleeves, read by Jack Holden

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a new mystery from Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera mysteries. The violent murder of an all-around good citizen brings DI Matthew Venn and his team in to investigate, and soon they have two murders on their hands. Jack Holden demonstrates his full talents, bringing the extensive cast of characters in this small and close-knit community in Devon to life with his strong narration.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Listeners can enjoy Homer’s THE ILIAD, translated by Ian Johnston, and narrated by Anton Lesser, on AudioFile’s Audiobook Break podcast.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. P.C. Wren’s Beau Geste, read by Rupert Degas: "If you like adventure novels, please, do yourself a favor and pick up this audiobook...You will not be disappointed...I believe that I may listen to Beau Geste again."

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TECHNICALLY FOOD by Larissa Zimberoff, read by Larissa Zimberoff

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author Larissa Zimberoff’s narration works in this food-centric listen because she has a pleasing voice and good reportorial skills. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff dig into Zimberoff’s audiobook exploring food engineering; she covers everything from vertical farms to plant-based and cell-based meats. Her decision to let food experts predict “What We’ll Be Eating in Twenty Years” makes for a fitting ending to her investigations of algae, fungi, and the brave new worlds of the future of food. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. ‘…as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print…’ is how Jane Austen described Elizabeth Bennet, the heroine of her novel Pride and Prejudice, and, indeed, many of us could not fail to agree with her. This marvellous account of family life in Regency England is read with customary panache by Juliet Stevenson.

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TOGETHER WE WILL GO by J. Michael Straczynski, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dan Bittner, Neo Cihi, Michael Crouch, et al.

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A full cast narrates J. Michael Straczynski’s novel of 12 strangers who embark upon a cross-country road trip, brought together by their mutual desire to die by suicide. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this haunting audiobook performed by a gifted cast of professional narrators who capture the depth of the passengers’ personalities and circumstances, skillfully conveying their pain, shame, and exhaustion while also highlighting their enduring tenderness. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Jonathan Booth performs Thomas à Kempis' The Imitation of Christ first published in 1471, the year of the author’s death, The Imitation of Christ is a highly influential Christian text. A celebration of God’s mercy, holiness and love. St Thomas More commended the work as one of the three books that everyone ought to own, while John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, called it the best summary of Christian life that he had ever read.

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REPUBLIC OF DETOURS by Scott Borchert, read by Jonathan Yen

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The talented Jonathan Yen brings warmth, intelligence, and a storytelling style to his narration of Scott Borchert’s fine cultural history of the 1930s Federal Writers Project (FWP). Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how this well researched and well narrated audiobook pulls listeners into the 1930s. His folksy voice and well-paced delivery suit this focused appraisal of the people and program designed to give work to broke writers—the work of writing state guides. A well-crafted journey into our past. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Wilkie Collins’ Man and Wife, read by Nicholas Boulton: Published 10 years after Collins’s most popular novel The Woman in White, Man and Wife centers on the confused and inequitable marriage laws of 19th-century Britain, reflecting the author’s own antipathy towards the institution. Collins shows himself to be a masterly storyteller, seamlessly moving the action from a country house to a suburb of London, and into a world of deceit and murder.

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THE ART OF PATIENCE by Sylvain Tesson, Frank Wynne [Trans.], read by David Pittu

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

David Pittu unpacks his full valise of vocalizations in this exceptional story of encountering one of the planet's least seen animals—the snow leopard. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this immersive audiobook by Sylvain Tesson, read by Pittu with a careful pace and style that reveal the workings of the famous French travel writer’s philosophical mind. The descriptions of the places traveled are lovely and inspiring, and the interactions with the elusive snow leopard are remarkable and almost otherworldly. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. "George Frideric Handel's composition of Messiah was composed in just 24 days, the final orchestration finished on September 14, 1741. Composer's Letters, a Naxos AudioBooks Earphones Award winning production, begins in the eighteenth century with Handel and ends in the mid-twentieth with Benjamin Britten. "In a perfect and perfectly delightful use of the audio format, this offering pairs accomplished and well-cast actors with letters written by famous composers." Poignant, funny, revealing, informative and so often direct and honest, these letters offer a fascinating insight into the personalities that created our Western musical tradition."

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THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES by Saki, read by Rupert Degas

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

English-Australian narrator Rupert Degas has a grand time giving voice to Saki’s many tales of blustering, tyrannical aunts; mischievous children; and that most important of all English inventions—the twit. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the stories of Saki (Hector Hugh Munro, 1870-1916), whose work is especially fun on audio. Degas reads the stories well—few do better at satirizing the foibles and follies of the upper classes. Listen closely, and you’ll hear why everyone from P.G. Wodehouse to Mony Python owes a huge debt to this Edwardian comic genius. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Michel de Montaigne, the French philosopher who established the personal essay as a literary form, died on September 13, 1592. Montaigne's essays, as well as essays by Jonathan Swift, Thomas Carlyle, Joseph Addison, and Samuel Johnson, are featured in the Naxos AudioBooks production, Favourite Essays: An Anthology, compiled and read by Earphones Award Winner Neville Jason. AudioFile Magazine says, Neville "...knows how to present these classics so they ring true to the modern ear."

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ONCE THERE WERE WOLVES by Charlotte McConaghy, read by Saskia Maarleveld

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Saskia Maarleveld narrates Charlotte McConaghy’s novel, a paean to the majesty of wolves. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Saskia’s skills with enlivening the characters, Scottish and Australian both, who inhabit this emotionally heavy and intriguing tale. Head biologist Inti Flynn is an Australian scientist with touch synesthesia, a sensory disorder that causes her to feel any pain she witnesses. Maarleveld captures both her accent and the tension that lurks in her psyche. Inti is working to reintroduce 14 wolves into the wilds of Scotland to restore the remote forest environments, but the locals are not exactly pleased, and there is a suspicious death in the woods. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. A classic work of military strategy, On War sets forth the theories and tactics of Carl von Clausewitz, a distinguished Prussian general who was notable for his roles in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The book covers a broad range of topics, including weapons, terrain, troops, and leadership, as well as the importance of defense over offence, the balance of power, and the subordination of war to politics. Praised for its timeless insights, Clausewitz’s treatise is often compared to the work of Machiavelli and Sun Tzu, and remains relevant to military leaders today. Narrated by: David Timson. Find it at naxosaudiobooks.com

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NO HIDING IN BOISE by Kim Hooper, read by Devon Sorvari, Stephanie Willing, Hillary Huber, Stephanie Einstein, Madeleine Maby, Nick Mondelli, Michael Brusasco, Patrick Lawlor, Adam Barr, Pete Cross, Neil Hellegers

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Kim Hooper’s ripped-from-the-headlines novel is brought to life by a stellar team of narrators. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this surprisingly hopeful audiobook that deals with the repercussions of a mass shooting in a Boise, Idaho, bar. Hillary Huber portrays a wide range of emotions as a mother whose son has committed a horrific violent act, and who searches for ways to deal with her grief, suffers blame from the community, and works to support her son’s victims. The cast gives all of the characters powerful voices that make them all feel real.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Wolfram von Eschenbach’s Parzival, read by Leighton Pugh. The narrative describes the quest of the Arthurian knight, Parzival, for the Holy Grail. His journey is filled with incident, from tournaments and sieges to chivalrous deeds and displays of true love. The poem influenced several later works, most notably Richard Wagner’s opera of the same name and Umberto Eco’s Baudolino. The text used in this recording is Cyril Edwards’s modern prose translation. Find it at naxosaudiobooks.com

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IN THE WILD LIGHT by Jeff Zentner, read by Michael Crouch

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Jeff Zentner’s story of two teens making their way in the world. Michael Crouch’s Southern accent depicts the East Tennessee origins of Crash Pruitt and stresses the gentleness and sensitivity at the core of his character. He also portrays the headstrong certainty of his brilliant friend Delaney Doyle, whom Cash met in a support group for children whose parents struggle with drug addiction. Crouch shows his gift for adding richness to spot-on, emotion-filled dialogue, powerful shared moments, and Cash’s lyrical view of the world. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Rupert Degas, Earphones Award Winner, reads Saki, The Complete Stories. Satirical, sly, and sophisticated--listen closely, and you'll hear why everyone from P.G. Wodehouse to Monty Python owes a huge debt of gratitude to this Edwardian comic genius. Find out more at naxosaudiobooks.com

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FALLING by T.J. Newman, read by Steven Weber

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Steven Weber keeps the tension high in this debut thriller written by T.J. Newman, a former flight attendant. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the twists and turns of this high-tension listen that may appeal to those looking for an entertaining thriller--perhaps even frequent fliers. A plane has been hijacked and the pilot is faced with a horrifying choice--crash the plane, or his family will be murdered. Weber fully delivers the chills in this audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Which king liked to bathe while the band played Rule Britannia? Which queen was so fat she needed a hoist to get on the throne? Which prince shut his wife out of Westminster Abbey to prevent her from being crowned? Who was the blood-thirstiest monarch of them all? Kings and Queens of England is a no-holds-barred account of the British monarchy with the gossip and gore left in, and nothing left out! It leaves no stone unturned in its mission to portray kings and queens as they really were, warts and all. Check it out at naxosaudiobooks.com

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BILLY SUMMERS by Stephen King, read by Paul Sparks

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Stephen King built a career on horror, but his latest is a crime drama--and it’s scary good. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss BILLY SUMMERS. The titular character is a hit man with a conscience--he only goes after “bad men,” though he also has no compunction about being paid to kill. Narrator Paul Sparks’s performance will draw listeners into the twisted story about Billy’s one last job where everything goes wrong. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Recent releases from Naxos AudioBooks have included Nicholas Boulton’s splendid performance of Lawrence Durrell’s The Alexandria Quartet. The four books were commercially and critically celebrated on their release and collectively remain the author’s most well-known work: Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, and Clea. Find out more at naxosaudiobooks.com

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THE BOMBAY PRINCE by Sujata Massey, read by Sneha Mathan

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

With her easy to listen to voice, and her subtly changing accents and rhythm for the Indian and British characters, Mathan performs the third in the Perveen Mistry series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this series that evokes the feel of the heat of Bombay. Mistry, the only female lawyer in India, seeks justice for a female Parsi student found dead on the day of Prince Edward VIII’s arrival in Bombay, November 1921. Massey paints detailed pictures of a city divided by religions and dominated by British rule. Listeners will find themselves engaged with the well-written and well-performed invitation into Mistry’s complex world.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Read by Nicholas Boulton, MY CHILDHOOD is the first in an autobiographical trilogy by the Russian writer and five-time Nobel Prize-nominee Maxim Gorky. Gorky’s depiction of 19th-century Russia through the eyes of his younger self is remarkable. As he recalls memories of his youth, contrasting themes and emotions are revealed, from barbaric joy to dark gloom, genuine cruelty and saint-like forbearance.

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MY GARDEN WORLD by Monty Don, read by Monty Don

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

It’s a joy to spend time with famed English horticulturalist Monty Don as he watches wildlife, tends to his garden, and generally appreciates the natural world. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Monty’s smooth narration of his year in the garden, giving listeners chronological observations of his time outdoors in Wales. Don, who received an O.B.E. for service to Great Britain, is the lead presenter of the BBC series “Gardeners’ World” and fans of that show will find much to love in the audiobook. Consisting of observations and short essays on everything from moles to primroses to wrens, this audiobook is one to cherish and gift.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Two Roads

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. The Great Fire of London began in a bakery in Pudding Lane on September 2nd. After viewing the fire from the Tower of London, Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary "It made me weep to see it." THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS 1-3 is a Naxos AudioBooks world-premiere recording of the diary in its entirety. From the discovery of a new public toilet to the restoration of King Charles II, the terrible Plague of 1665 and followed by the Great Fire of London, Pepys wrote down what he saw. Narrator Leighton Pugh "keeps it all lively. David Timson ably reads the historical introductions to each year."

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CARRY ON by John Lewis, Andrew Young, Kabir Sehgal, read by Don Cheadle

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0000

A short but powerful audiobook collects the wisdom of the late Civil Rights activist and Congressman John Lewis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this collection that touches on empathy, friendship, courage, and of course, voting. Don Cheadle narrates with a warm, approachable voice and delivers Lewis’s observations with smooth, clear emphasis. Each chapter begins with a brief piece of instrumental music, reinforcing the idea that this is an audio that can be enjoyed slowly, chapter by chapter, or from beginning to end.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Support for Behind the Mic comes from Naxos AudioBooks. Naxos AudioBooks wants to remind you that September is Library Card Sign-up Month; signing up for a library card provides access to technology, multimedia content (audiobooks), and educational programming that transforms lives and strengthens communities.

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THE COLDEST CASE by Martin Walker, read by Robert Ian Mackenzie

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

In the Périgord region of France, Bruno, chief of police, uses his investigative skills to solve a murder that took place 30 years earlier during the Cold War era. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how narrator Robert Ian Mackenzie does a wonderful job bringing Bruno and his friends to life. Using authentic-sounding pronunciations of French names, he is particularly strong during the descriptions of Bruno’s meal preparations. He shines at injecting warmth and humanity into his portrayal of the believable and likable Bruno. The result is an enjoyable and often mouthwatering listen.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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THE MADNESS OF CROWDS by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Robert Bathurst returns listeners to the fictional Canadian village of Three Pines in the 17th title in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the return to the compelling narrator-author duo, and all the favorite characters Bathurst voices so well. Gamache’s Christmas holiday is interrupted by the appearance of a visiting statistics professor whose thesis promotes eugenics and threatens Gamache’s sense of justice and his family. A timely and provocative exploration of the thin line between kindness and cruelty.

Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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KATHARINE PARR, THE SIXTH WIFE by Alison Weir, read by Rosalyn Landor

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rosalyn Landor beautifully portrays Katharine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss Alison Weir’s historical fiction audiobook that Sandi calls superb listening. Katharine plans to marry Tom Seymour, but after Henry beheads his most recent wife for adultery and treason, Henry fancies Katharine. What choice does she have? She becomes queen in a kingdom plagued by religious turmoil, and court intrigue puts Katharine in danger for her reformist beliefs. Superb listening! Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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THE WOMAN THEY COULD NOT SILENCE by Kate Moore, read by Kate Moore

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Kate Moore delivers her compelling biography of Elizabeth Packard, an advocate for the rights of women and patients unjustly committed to insane asylums. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss how Elizabeth’s vindictive husband had her forcefully committed because he feared her intelligence, opposed her defense of women’s rights, and loathed her deviation from his religious beliefs. Elizabeth encountered many other sane women committed by men who found them troublesome, and she documented the asylum’s disgusting conditions and the staff’s brutal treatment of inmates. Moore’s performance shines a light on Packard, who never stopped fighting against gender-based prejudice. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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FOOTNOTES by Caseen Gaines, read by Caseen Gaines

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

One hundred years ago, the first all-Black musical, SHUFFLE ALONG, helped change the face of Broadway. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss author and narrator Caseen Gaines’s fascinating and well-researched history of the struggles of Black actors. Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, Flournoy Miller, and Aubrey Lyels combined their talents to write SHUFFLE ALONG, a political satire that challenged the racist norms and had Black actors portraying non-stereotypical characters. Gaines’s narration brings both the period and the people to life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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LILYVILLE by Tovah Feldshuh, read by Tovah Feldshuh

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Tovah Feldshuh’s memoir is a highly entertaining look back at her life as a successful stage and screen actor, and an unsentimental remembrance of the force of nature that was her mother, Lily. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Sandi Henschel discuss this audiobook that does recount some sparkling open nights and backstage love affairs, but is mostly about Feldshuh’s admiration and undying love for her mother. Feldshuh’s career and her complex relationship with Lily make this top-notch listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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IN THE HEIGHTS by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Jeremy McCarter, read by America Ferrara, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Jeremy McCarter

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Before HAMILTON, and before Lin-Manuel Miranda became a household name, there was IN THE HEIGHTS. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s new podcast contributor Sandi Henschel discuss the audiobook that recounts how the team of multicultural newcomers struggled to get their first Latino hip-hop project to Broadway and then, 10 years later, made into a Hollywood film. Here Miranda and HAMILTON co-author Jeremy McCarter, along with Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Quiara Alegría Hudes, explain the numerous challenges IN THE HEIGHTS faced. This is an audio treasure for theater and film buffs. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE LAST FALLEN STAR by Graci Kim, read by Suzie Yeung

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Suzie Yeung brings Graci Kim’s lively fantasy adventure to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of this story that brings together a magical world packed with Korean mythology and contemporary life in California. Twelve-year-old Riley was adopted into a clan of gifted Korean witches, but as a “saram”--one without magic--she is constantly aware of being an outsider. When her sister’s plan to share her magic backfires, Riley is launched on a quest to save her family, and to find her own sense of belonging. Listeners will find themselves fully immersed and invested in the story’s magical realm--and longing for the sequel! Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Disney Hyperion

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BLACK BOY JOY by Kwame Mbalia [Ed.], read by Amir Abdullah, Taj Leahy

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author and editor Kwame Mbalia brings an outstanding ensemble of Black male and non-binary writiters together in a captivating audio anthology. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun of listening to narrators Amir Abdullah and Taj Leahy bringing these stories to life. Every author’s contribution--whether funny, sad, scary, or hopeful--confirms that “joy is at the center of everything.” There are stories of choosing the perfect first day of school outfit, perfecting dance moves, first crushes, loving families--and more than one jet-pack-fueled adventure. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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THE ONES WE'RE MEANT TO FIND by Joan He, read by Nancy Wu

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Nancy Wu narrates with a quiet intensity that suits this climate disaster novel centered around two teen sisters who are desperate to be reunited. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Joan He’s YA novel that examines both the perils of our future and the depths of connections between sisters. Kasey is a science prodigy living in an eco-city in the sky, worried about her sister, who went missing at sea. Cee has survived for three years on an isolated island, with few memories of her past, but listeners hear her desperation to find her sister out across the sea. Listeners will be slowly drawn into their devastating story full of perfectly executed twists. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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BATTLE ROYAL by Lucy Parker, read by Billie Fulford-Brown

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Billie Fulford-Brown enlivens Lucy Parker’s start to her new contemporary romance series featuring those who are “Palace Insiders.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the hilarious, sweet, and moving audiobook about rival bakers-turned-lovers. Four years earlier, Sylvie Fairchild was a contestant on Operation Cake and lost after a disastrous unicorn cake explosion glitter-bombed one of the judges, the stern Dominic De Vere. Fortunately, she was able to launch a successful baking business--one that just so happens to be across the street from Dominic’s. The two are contenders for a royal bid, and they slowly discover there is more to the other than meets the eye. Fulford-Brown captures Sylvie’s sparkly spirit and Dominic’s icy demeanor, making for a delightful listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE by Tia Williams, read by Mela Lee

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Mela Lee’s extraordinary range and dramatic style allow listeners to experience every dark, humorous, and heartbreaking moment of this fraught second-chance romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Tia Williams’s contemporary romance that follows two writers from their intense time together as teenagers to the present day, when sparks are still flying. Eva Mercy and Shane Hall shared seven life-changing days together that inspired their successful writing careers, but they haven’t seen each other since. There’s an intensity to the story that Mela Lee perfectly captures on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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WORLD TRAVEL by Anthony Bourdain, Laurie Woolever, read by Laurie Woolever, Steve Albini, Shep Gordon, and a full cast

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Listening to this posthumous collection of commentary by chef Anthony Bourdain on his favorite places is like joining him for one final adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the many voices that bring the collection to life, including Laure Woolever, Bourdain’s assistant who worked with him on this project and supplied context for the many stories. Shep Gordon’s narration captures Bourdain’s tone as he describes the people and food he encounters in his travels. This is a listen that makes it easy to imagine traveling the world with Bourdain, and the essays interspersed throughout highlight the affection felt for the late travel show host and writer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE THOUSAND CRIMES OF MING TSU by Tom Lin, read by Feodor Chin

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Feodor Chin beautifully performs Tom Lin’s revenge story, set in the post-Civil War American West. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Chin’s masterful narration of this violent and vivid tale, capturing the lyrical flow of the text, and voicing authentic-sounding accents, while also building the mystery and tension. Ming Tsu was forcibly recruited by the Union Pacific Railroad as a manual worker, and after he escapes, he’s determined to track down every man who tore him away from his wife. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE LIVING SEA OF WAKING DREAMS by Richard Flanagan, read by Essie Davis

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Essie Davis delivers a powerhouse performance of Richard Flanagan’s climate change novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the Man Booker Prize-winner’s self-described “rising scream” of a novel about human-wrought ecological havoc. The story chronicles the struggle of three adult siblings facing their mother’s mortality while the countryside burns and the oceans heat around them. Davis grabs hold of the listener, commanding attention with a rich, beautifully modulated voice and a ferocious delivery. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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HELL OF A BOOK by Jason Mott, read by JD Jackson, Ronald Peet

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

If there ever was a piece of fiction suited to becoming an audiobook, this is it. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed of these two distinct yet interlocking stories of what it is to be Black in America. Narrator JD Jackson’s inspired portrayal of an unnamed author on a boozy book tour has the sandy sadness of a man coming to terms with fame, race, and death. Ronald Peet, whose voice has a fine and magisterial sound, delivers the parallel story of “Soot,” a 10-year-old Black boy. This bittersweet audiobook is moving and memorable. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE CAVE DWELLERS by Christina McDowell, read by Madeleine Maby

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Madeleine Maby narrates Christina McDowell’s layered satirical novel with a strong sense of story and a fine ability to get inside her characters’ psyches. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the fast-paced story of Washington, DC’s, powerful and power hungry residents that launches with the drama of a horrific crime. The “cave dwellers,” or those with old money and old mansions, live uptown existences that are upended by murder and corruption at the highest levels. Maby’s narrations are nuanced, and her performance reveals the vapid sounds of the social climber and the angst of the teenager. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster.

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YEARBOOK by Seth Rogen, read by Seth Rogen and a Full Cast

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Skillfully constructed, this audiobook gives Seth Rogen an opportunity to display his acting chops, and he sounds like he has fun reading his own words. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed that this is definitely one to listen to rather than read with your eyes, as Rogen’s performance is key to the enjoyment. Rogen began his comedy career when he was a teenager, and he includes hilarious stories of his early appearances, along with memories of his upbringing and close connection with his family. He also delves into stories of Hollywood, and a chorus of voices adds to the fun. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE PLAGUE YEAR by Lawrence Wright, read by Eric Jason Martin

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The refrain throughout Lawrence Wright’s evaluation of the first year the world faced the COVID-19 pandemic? Completely predictable. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this well-written title, narrated with a clear and documentarian approach by Eric Jason Martin. Wright frames the pandemic in historic terms while also exploring the challenges that made navigating the pandemic uniquely difficult in 2020. He doesn’t shy away from the numerous bad decisions made and inequities in impact, and Martin is unwaveringly direct and clear in his excellent performance. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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SUBURBAN DICKS by Fabian Nicieza, read by Natalie Naudus

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Natalie Naudus unites a disparate community connected by small–town secrets, fading dreams, and racial divides in this mystery by Fabian Nicieza, co-creator of DEADPOOL. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about Naudus’s wry performance—she clearly gets the subtle humor needed to keep the audiobook amusing even in the darker moments. The story centers on a murder at a gas station in a New Jersey suburb, and former criminal profiler and local mother Andie Stern and journalist Kenny Lee, who combine resources to investigate. They incite the ire of local law enforcement, particular the sheriff. Naudus’s vocal versatility and ear for dialogue are well matched to Nicieza’s blend of snarky humor, suburban drama, and issues-oriented storytelling. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE ANTHROPOCENE REVIEWED by John Green, read by John Green

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

John Green’s audiobook offers a complex and insightful look at the various human experiences that shape us. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the essays that rate everything from diet Dr. Pepper to the Internet on a 5-star scale, while also providing internal exploration into his own psyche. He gives a beautiful and poignant performance, guiding listeners through gentle moments full of heartache that shift seamlessly to whimsical delight during upbeat sections. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid, read by Julia Whelan

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Julia Whelan passionately narrates this family drama focused on a model and surfer named Nina, and her estranged rock legend father. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about how, as with any good family story, there are secrets to hide and reveal in this audiobook. The story alternates between the events of a day in August 1983 that lead up to a party, and flashbacks that recount how Nina and her siblings became so emotionally dependent on one another. Whelan’s distinct voice for each briefly glimpsed character enhances the rich details of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s story. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

Published by Random House Audio.

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CASTLE SHADE by Laurie R. King, read by Jenny Sterlin

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Jump back into Laurie R. King’s quirky mystery series brought to life by narrator Jenny Sterlin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about how well Sterlin knows the characters after many years of narrating the series, and the fun of the lively plot. Queen Marie of Roumania summons Sherlock Holmes and his wife, Mary Russell, to her country, which borders Transylvania, to find out who is threatening the Princess’s life. Sterling escorts the duo of sleuths on a mysterious and frightening journey to Castle Bran. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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PLUNDER by Cynthia Saltzman, read by Suzanne Toren

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Cynthia Saltzman’s fascinating audiobook is a fusion of exceptional writing and an outstanding narration by Suzanne Toren. Saltzman presents a sweeping account of Napoleon’s conquest of Europe, including the looting of its finest antiquities and Renaissance masterpieces and the creation of the Musée du Louvre. Caught between the colliding worlds of art and politics is the history of Paolo Veronese’s painting THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA. The level of detail and visual imagery in the audiobook is stunning, and Toren delivers the entirety with a bravura that is uniquely her own. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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Today’s episode is sponsored by Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Comics like ARCHIE, DARK HORSE, VAULT, DYNAMITE and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net

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THE MAN WITH THE SILVER SAAB by Alexander McCall Smith, read by David Rintoul

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator David Rintoul takes on the complex investigations of odd, unusual, and often inconsequential crimes that populate Alexander McCall Smith’s latest parody of a Scandi police procedural. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Rintoul’s innate seriousness contrasts perfectly with the spate of philosophical dialogue and unending stream of comments and asides. Detective Ulf Varg, who takes himself very seriously, bandies about crimes and motives with his sidekick Blomquist and coworker Anna in the Department of Sensitive Crimes. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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Graphic Audio, A Movie in Your Mind featuring dramatized adaptations of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Novels by Brandon Sanderson, Peter V. Brett, Brent Weeks, Elizabeth Moon, C.J. Cherryh, Simon R. Green and more. Save 55% Off your first order with coupon 55LISTEN only at GraphicAudio.net

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THE SECRET OF CHIMNEYS by Agatha Christie, read by Simon Jones

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Simon Jones takes on a riot of madcap characters in this early Agatha Christie mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about the fun of listening to a classic mystery narrated by the masterful Simon Jones, especially when it’s packed with hilarious and delightful characters. Anthony Cade agrees to help a friend by delivering the manuscript of a dead nobleman to an English publisher. Naturally, he’s then dragged into international intrigue, upper-crust scandals, jewel thieves, and a murder at an English country estate. The production has the atmosphere of a classic full-cast radio play. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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THE CELLIST by Daniel Silva, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini steps into big shoes to narrate Daniel Silva’s Gabriel Allon series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about Ballerini’s takeover from the previous series narrator, George Guidall, and how Ballerini has found his own voices for the many characters. In the midst of the pandemic, Allon takes on the evil Russian empire, which is undermining democracy while blatantly robbing its own people. It’s a compelling spy story performed by a talented narrator, making for a totally engaging listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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TOKYO EVER AFTER by Emiko Jean, read by Ali Ahn

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Ali Ahn brings plenty of personality and heart to Emiko Jean’s young adult rom-com about a high school senior who has discovered an incredible secret —her father is royalty. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this fun and sweet story in the spirit of THE PRINCESS DIARIES. Raised in California by her mother, Izumi Tanaka doesn’t know her father’s name until she discovers it accidentally, and she is shocked to learn he is the Crown Prince of Japan. When Izzy is invited to travel to Japan to meet her family, Ahn’s delivery reflects her conflicted reactions to the many unfamiliar customs and expectations—and her handsome bodyguard. Strong-willed Izzy worries she’ll never truly be accepted by her father’s traditional family. A delightful start to a new series. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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SISTERS OF THE NEVERSEA by Cynthia Leitich Smith, read by Katie Anvil Rich

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

If you’re looking for an excellent audiobook to listen to with your family this summer, this is it! Narrator Katie Anvil Rich brings vibrant characters to life in Cynthia Leitich Smith’s reimagining of PETER PAN. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all the many reasons she enjoyed listening with her family. In this story, Lily is Muscogee Creek; her stepsister, Wendy, is English; and their younger brother Michael, is both. As the siblings get swept off to Neverland, their stubbornness, creativity, and love for each other prove to be sizable challenges to the mores of Pan’s volatile realm. Rich’s inventive delivery is beautifully matched to the world-building and characters, and she brings out the heart and intensity in this stunning adventure. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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WHAT WHITE PEOPLE CAN DO NEXT by Emma Dabiri, read by Emma Dabiri

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Emma Dabiri narrates her work with the same clarity, thoughtfulness, and directness with which she wrote her guide to go beyond beyond the nebulousness of “allyship” to the action of building coalitions for change. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this short but powerful work by the Irish Nigerian author, which delves into the history of racial formation and the corresponding power and legal structures, and advocates for the need to do away with these structures to build new futures. Dabiri’s compelling writing, her warm and accented voice, and her smooth and well-paced narration combine to capture your attention, making for an audiobook you’ll want to return to, and share. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER by Ashley C. Ford, read by Ashley C. Ford

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Ashley C. Ford brings listeners into her life in this outstanding coming-of-age story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the power of hearing Ford narrate her own story, starting off with an emotional letter from her father, who was incarcerated when she was a toddler. The letter tells of his pending release from prison, decades later. Ford has a beautiful way with words, and she describes her childhood and adolescence with such detail, highlighting both her pain and anxieties and the times that were full of joy, especially with her grandmother. It’s an emotional listen, made all the more powerful by hearing it told in her own words. The audiobook concludes with an excellent discussion between Ford and author Clint Smith, giving listeners added insights into the writing process and the emotional impact of recording her audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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BLACKOUT by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dion Graham, Imani Parks, Jordan Cobb, Shayna Small, A.J Beckles, Bahni Turpin

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

An all-star cast of narrators and bestselling YA authors come together for the perfect summery treat. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the fun and joy of these interlocking short stories of Black teens in love, all set during a memorable New York City blackout. Hear a clip with Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s compelling narration of Tiffany D. Jackson’s story “The Long Walk,” with two exes reconnecting on the long walk down Manhattan to a Brooklyn block party. Their story is told in five parts over the course of the night, interwoven between tales of love at first sight, the confusion of love triangles, and heartfelt confessions of long-held crushes. Each story sparkles with the excitement and joy of falling in love. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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MY PLACE AT THE TABLE by Alexander Lobrano, read by Robert Fass

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Robert Fass narrates Alexander Lobrano’s satisfying audiobook with flair. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Fass’s ability to capture the longing and introspective qualities in Lobrano’s coming-of-age memoir. It’s a work packed with stories and insights into Lobrano’s life as an American food critic in Paris, starting with his discovery of his passion for food. His idiosyncratic guide on current places to dine in Paris is inspired and fun. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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THE FREE WORLD by Louis Menand, read by David Colacci

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator David Colacci approaches Louis Menand’s opinionated, engrossing audiobook with a practiced voice that lets its numerous stories tell themselves without fanfare. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this broad-brush look at the cultural history of the Cold War. The narration moves the intertwining topics forward, not an easy task in a kaleidoscopic work that ranges from the Beat poets to CIA shenanigans and analyses of art and philosophy, music, and the media. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE VIXEN by Francine Prose, read by Tristan Morris

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Tristan Morris inhabits the youthful protagonist of Francine Prose’s fine audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this understated performance that shows Morris inhabiting the psyche of the youthful protagonist, set in the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s. The deliberate cadence and earnest style add to the revelation of the mystery at the center of this complex, textured, and richly detailed novel. It adds up to a grand listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE PENGUIN BOOK OF THE MODERN AMERICAN SHORT STORY edited by John Freeman, read by Erin Bennett, Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Frankie Corzo, Ramón de Ocampo, John Freeman, et al.

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

There are many pleasures to discover in this fine anthology of the past 50 years, performed by some of the most gifted narrators working today. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the diversity and power of the collection, which includes works by Raymond Carver, Stephen King, Grace Paley, Karen Russell, Lauren Groff, and Edwidge Danticat. Some of the finest narrators working today read the stories, including Cassandra Campbell narrating Susan Sontag’s powerful “The Way We Live Now,” which you can hear on the episode. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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REVIVAL SEASON by Monica West, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s performance captures the fear and exhilaration of 15-year-old Miriam Horton as she travels the revival circuit with her family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Abbott-Pratt’s skill at narrating debut novelist Monica West’s scenes of terror and wonder, using a fast-paced style that suits the high emotions of the revival meetings at the center of the plot. She expertly emulates Miriam’s troubled voice when things go wrong. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE ICEPICK SURGEON by Sam Kean, read by Ben Sullivan

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Ben Sullivan’s strong, clear voice and intentional pacing complement these tales of scientific misdeeds. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Sam Kean’s examination of scientists who disregarded ethics to achieve scientific glory--though hindsight shows that unethical means almost always result in faulty methodology. Listeners will be aghast at the actions of these scientists, who sound more like characters from pulp science fiction. These chronicles are important because of their impact on the present day. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE QUIET BOY by Ben H. Winters, read by William DeMeritt

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator William DeMeritt is the perfect match for Ben H. Winters’s compelling audiobook--a mix of legal thriller and family drama with a touch of sci-fi. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about this story of a surgery gone wrong, and the ensuing courtroom drama from two trials told over alternating timelines. One details the family’s attempts to sue the hospital over the failed surgery—the other has the father on trial for possibly murdering a key witness. DeMeritt has a compelling voice that draws listeners into the story, and he expertly captures the cast of characters and all their traits: quirky, dark, passionate, and desperate. Listeners will think about this fast-paced and twisted story long after finishing it. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE MAIDENS by Alex Michaelides, read by Louise Brealey, Kobna Holdbrick-Smith

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author Alex Michaelides and narrators Louise Brealey and Kobna Holdbrick-Smith cast a spell that will have listeners glued to this suspenseful novel every chance they get. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this bestselling serial killer mystery set at Cambridge University. Group therapist Mariana has returned to the school to comfort her niece after the girl’s friend is violently murdered. It turns out that the friend was part of a group of female students, The Maidens, who worshiped their classics professor. Brealey’s clear, soothing, strong voice transforms with ease from frantic teenage girl to louche male professor, and her pacing manages to both comfort and emphasize Mariana’s peril. Holdbrick-Smith’s rich, gravelly voice amplifies that peril as he narrates letters by an unnamed writer who has a growing desire to kill again. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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ALL THE LONELY PEOPLE by Mike Gayle, read by Ben Onwukwe

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Ben Onwukwe brings out the humor and pathos in Mike Gayle’s story of Jamaican widower Hubert Bird, who discovers friendship in unlikely places. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed about this rich listening experience, thanks to both Gayle’s layered story and Onwukwe’s performance. Hubert’s daughter, Rose, thinks his life is full of friends and fun, but he actually lives an entirely solitary existence. When Rose announces an unexpected visit, he has to find some fake friends quickly. Hubert’s adventures are hilarious and heartwarming, and Onwukwe’s depiction of him makes this production shine. Listeners will root for Hubert, rejoice at his newfound friendships, and wish that they, too, could have a cuppa with this lovely man. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave, read by Rebecca Lowman

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Rebecca Lowman’s performance will hook listeners until the very end of Laura Dave’s contemporary mystery. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the bestselling thriller that has been taking off this summer, and Lowman’s skill at finding the emotional beats in the story. Hannah wakes up one day to find her new husband, Owen, has vanished, leaving her a note: “Protect her.” Hannah assumes he means his daughter, Bailey, who resents Hannah. Lowman’s portrayals of the characters and the mystery surrounding Owen’s secret life will intrigue listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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JOSEPHINE TEY: THE DAUGHTER OF TIME & OTHER MYSTERIES by Josephine Tey, read by a Full Cast

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Scottish author and playwright Josephine Tey (1896-1952) holds an especially honored place among British mystery writers, and this collection of five BBC Radio programs is a wonderful introduction to her work. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the fun of listening to BBC Radio work their magic with finely produced audio theater, great actors, and an impressive soundscape of both music and sound effects. Tey’s work is paired with some of the best known and most talented character actors in England, making for an excellent way to enjoy timeless classics on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by BBC Audio.

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SOOLEY by John Grisham, read by Dion Graham

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0000

John Grisham jumps back into the sports world with Golden Voice narrator Dion Graham performing a novel about Samuel “Sooley” Suleman, a basketball prodigy from South Sudan. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Graham’s excellent narration that helps shape the story, alternating between the player’s life in the U.S. and his time in South Sudan. Graham deftly narrates multiple African accents, creating engaging voices that suit each character. This novel keeps listeners engaged, shot after shot, game after game. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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FACING THE MOUNTAIN by Daniel James Brown, read by Louis Ozawa

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Louis Ozawa narrates this history audiobook about Japanese Americans at home and abroad during WWII from Daniel James Brown, the author of THE BOYS IN THE BOAT. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Ozawa’s deft narration of these heartbreaking stories that shine a much-needed light on the way those of Japanese heritage were treated during the war. The book follows a group of young Nisei men, children born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrant parents, three of whom would enlist in the Army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and one a Quaker and conscientious objector. Ozawa modulates between hope and despair with the deftness of a film composer, and easily slips into a Hawaiian, Japanese, or American accent to reflect the story. Compelling and essential listening. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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OCEAN PREY by John Sandford, read by Richard Ferrone

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Richard Ferrone’s gritty voice is a great match for U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport in this 31st book in the Prey series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the excellent listening experience provided by a long-running series with a capable narrator at its helm. In this story, Davenport is sent to Florida to help with an FBI investigation of murderous heroine traffickers, and in a crossover from another Sandford series, detective Virgil Flowers is brought in to go undercover. Sandford’s action-packed scenes, as delivered by Ferrone, keep listeners on edge while providing insights into the characters. Ferrone is masterful at performing the witty dialogue, which includes a timely discussion about police-instigated violence. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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DREAM GIRL by Laura Lippman, read by Jason Culp

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Lippman’s ingenious, allusive, and daring new thriller makes for a massively entertaining audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jason Culp’s vivid character creations. Culp delivers emotion, color, humor, and momentum with skill and verve, walking a fine line with the listener. In the story, famous novelist Gerry Anderson is confined to his bed from an injury and starts getting threatening calls from a nonexistent person -- a character from his breakout novel DREAM GIRL. It’s a whiz-bang plot on top of a deliciously accurate portrait of the good, bad, and ugly of being a brand-name 21st-century writer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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In conversation with Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In this bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Cassandra Campbell, one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators. Cassandra shares how her background in theater -- both in her studies and in her family -- has influenced her audiobook narrations. She gives listeners insights into some of the bestselling audiobooks that she’s brought to life on audio, including Delia Owens’s WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.

Cassandra Cambpell has narrated more than 900 titles and is a Golden Voice for a reason -- she’s an oral shapeshifter, and her versatility, her emotional intelligence, and her resonant voice make her a much-sought-after narrator. She’s won numerous Earphones Awards and earned many spots on AudioFile’s annual Best Audiobooks lists for titles including THE BRIGHT HOUR, LIFE DRAWING, and more.

Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Cassandra Campbell and read reviews of her audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators, visit our website.

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ALL THE COWBOYS AIN'T GONE by John J. Jacobson, read by Grover Gardner

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Grover Gardner surely had fun narrating this rollicking adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minksoff discuss how Gardner doesn’t miss a beat and is spot-on narrating the Texan protagonist aligned with the French, German, British, and North African characters who inhabit the fantastical Kingdom of Mur. The hero, Lincoln Smith, finds the turn of the twentieth century too modern and seeks adventure abroad. He enures enough scrapes and near-death experiences to fill a box of dime novels. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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THE HARD CROWD by Rachel Kushner, read by Rachel Kushner

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Rachel Kushner’s essays, which she narrates with an assured and practiced voice. An admired novelist, she’s a fine storyteller who uses pace well, and gives life to the many real-life characters who fill this audiobook. The collection includes personal profiles, creative nonfiction, literary analysis, and an ongoing immersion into herself. She also writes precise and thoughtful literary criticism, all narrated with a warm tone. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS AN EASY JOB by Kikuko Tsumura, Polly Barton [Trans.], read by Cindy Kay

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Cindy Kay performs Kikuko Tsumura’s deceptively titled work with a fine sense of pacing and an understated affect. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her precise narration and the warmth in her voice that grounds the unnamed narrator’s sometimes fantastic experiences. She doesn’t want to work too hard, but in the jobs she finds, she does remarkable things, makes discoveries, solves mysteries, and is a fascinating character to spend time with. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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WHEREABOUTS by Jhumpa Lahiri, read by Susan Vinciotti Bonito

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Susan Vinciotti Bonito gives Jhumpa Lahiri’s introspective, fragmented fiction—written in Italian and translated into English by the author—a delicate, poignant narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Bonito’s narration that uses a deliberate pace and inquiring tone that suits the internal monologue style, capturing the loneliness of the author’s voice. In this story written in vignettes, the progagonist closely observes her world and herself and has a rich imagination. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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LEGENDS OF THE NORTH CASCADES by Jonathan Evison, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini’s masterful performance of Jonathan Evison’s LEGENDS OF THE NORTH CASCADES. His clear and evocative delivery of the novel works splendidly for this story that exists on several planes. The inner and outer lives of an Iraq War vet and former star football player comprise one plane, and the other focuses on a legend of long ago involving a Native woman named S’tka who is cast out by her clan and survives on the edge of the ice with her son, N’ka. Ballerini’s performance is masterful. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Workman Publishing.

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In conversation with Golden Voice Narrator Soneela Nankani

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Soneela Nankani, who was named one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Hear how Soneela’s training in acting and her family’s storytelling traditions have influenced her narration work, what surprised her about narrating audiobooks, and the fun of collaborating with other narrators in multicast projects.

Soneela Nankani’s lively performances are a joy to listen to, and she helps listeners connect emotionally with an audiobook, whether it’s a rollicking fantasy adventure for young listeners or intense nonfiction for adults. Soneela’s skills with accents and her ability to narrate humor and drama alike make for compelling listening. Her narrations have garnered her numerous Earphones Awards, and she’s landed on AudioFile’s annual Best Audiobooks lists for titles including THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU and THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE.

Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani and read reviews of her audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

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ONE LAST STOP by Casey McQuiston, read by Natalie Naudus

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Natalie Naudus brings a quiet intensity to Casey McQuiston’s genre-crossing audiobook featuring August, a prickly loner who tries to lose herself in New York City but instead finds purpose, community, and an unconventional romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this bestseller that Naudus narrates with an immersive and utterly beguiling performance, the perfect fit for a tale of queer joy, first love, and self discovery. August meets Jane on the Q train and develops a major crush, but things get more complicated once she discovers the truth—Jane is from the 1970s, trapped on the Q train in a time slip. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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TWINS by Varian Johnson, read by Ahnya O'Riordan, Grace Capeless, and a Full Cast

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the lively and fun full-cast production that brings Varian Johnson’s Eisner-nominated middle-grade graphic novel to life. Maureen and Francine are Black twin sisters forever being mistaken for one another until they start middle school and outgoing Francine, voiced with confidence by Grace Capeless, decides to run for class president. But the story is told from Maureen’s point of view, and Ahnya O’Riordan’s youthful voice captures her anxieties about change and her frustration at her sister--which manifest in her also running for class president! Sound effects and upbeat music set the scene as O’Riordan and Capeless convey the twins’ growing conflict over the election--and the strength of their bond when secrets come to light. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks.

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STAMPED (FOR KIDS) by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi, Sonja Cherry-Paul [Adapt.], read by Pe'Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

How better to communicate this vital history of racism in America to young readers than to have the audiobook narrated by a peer? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this STAMPED adaptation by Sonja Cherry-Paul, narrated by 9-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson with a lively and engaging voice that appeals to younger listeners. Her voice and delivery are unmistakably that of a kid, and she narrates short chapters that are ideal for listening to one at a time followed by time for discussion and reflection. The audiobook connects the history of racist ideas with what is still happening in America today. Jackson’s relatable performance increases the accessibility of this important, sobering, and inspiring work for young listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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THE CONDUCTORS by Nicole Glover, read by Bahni Turpin

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Bahni Turpin’s versatile narration pulls together the many threads in Nicole Glover’s debut novel, a heady mix of historical fantasy, magic, and mystery set in Reconstruction-era Philadelphia. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Bahni’s many skills used to bring this audiobook to life -- and so many other memorable listens. Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, once conductors on the Underground Railroad, now use their magic to investigate crimes in Philadelphia’s Black community. When a friend is found murdered, they realize with horror that the murderer may be someone from within that community. An excellent and engrossing listen for fans of genre-blended books. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry, read by Julia Whelan

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan’s immersive narration and Emily Henry’s rich prose draw listeners into this slow-burn romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Julia’s many narrating talents at play in this audiobook. Poppy is uninspired by her work as a travel writer and missing Alex, her best friend, after a falling out. She texts to see if he’ll revive their summer trip tradition, and Julia’s narration makes Poppy’s jumbled hope, anxiety, and joy palpable when he agrees. Too bad nothing goes according to plan! Alternating chapters jump back in time to trace their friendship from college to the present. Julia wrings out all the emotions as Poppy and Alex inch ever closer to giving into their shared longing for each other. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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In conversation with Golden Voice Narrator Michael Crouch

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0000

In today’s special bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Michael Crouch, who was inducted as one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Michael discusses his entry into audiobook narration, the joys of narrating audiobooks for listeners of all ages, and what he finds most special about the profession.

Michael Crouch has versatility and impressive skills with bringing characters to life on audio, and he has won numerous awards for his work in contemporary fiction and young adult and middle-grade novels. His performances have landed him on AudioFile’s Best of the Year lists for titles including Stefan Merrill Block’s OLIVER LOVING, Gayle Forman’s I HAVE LOST MY WAY, and Ruta Sepetys’s SALT TO THE SEA, which was also a 2017 Audie Award winner for Young Adults.

Learn more about Golden Voice narrator Michael Crouch and read reviews of his audiobooks on AudioFile’s website.

For the full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voices, visit our website.

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SLEEPING BEAUTY by Charles Perrault, read by Barbara Rosenblat, Georgia Lee Schultz and a Full Cast

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Golden Voice Barbara Rosenblat brings her inimitable vocal energy and joy to every project, and this crisp production with original music is no exception. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this fairy tale that stars the fairies of SLEEPING BEAUTY,, with Rosenblat going full New Yorker for the good fairy Hazel and dripping with evil for the bad fairy Tormaleen. A curse is cast, a handsome prince is involved, and listeners can be assured that there will be a happily ever after. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Design Sound Productions.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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MY REMARKABLE JOURNEY by Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, Katherine Moore, read by Robin Miles

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Hear the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson, one of the brilliant NASA mathematicians who made the Mercury program a success, brought to life through Golden Voice Robin Miles’s skilled narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Miles’s engaging narration style, capturing the wonder, triumph, and grit of the author. Johnson tells her own inspiring life story, including her battles against racial barriers and her intellectual triumphs, and Miles makes listeners feel as if they are hearing the words directly from Katherine Johnson herself. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD by Matt de la Peña, read by Dion Graham

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham conveys the dreamy quality of Milo’s imaginings, along with a weighty message, in his captivating delivery of this thoughtful children’s story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Graham’s skill and evident fun in bringing this picture book adaptation to life. Milo imagines and sketches the stories of passengers he sees on the subway, but soon realizes the conclusions he’s drawn based on appearances alone may have been wrong. Graham’s voice is large but has a gentle robustness that immerses listeners in Milo’s thoughts. He turns this meaningful story into a heartfelt listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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WHITE IVY by Susie Yang, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller skillfully steers the dramatic plot of Susie Yang’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Golden Voice narrator Zeller’s skills in narrating this story full of twists. As a rebellious teen, Ivy Yang was sent to China after her mother discovered her shoplifting. Years later, back in Boston, she enters a relationship with a teenage crush, and just when things seem perfect, a ghost from her past threatens to undo everything she’s worked for. Zeller breathes life into the story, deftly switching between characters, making for a perfect match between performance and text. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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O RUSSET WITCH! by F. Scott Fitzgerald, read by JD Jackson

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator JD Jackson exudes the perfect jazzy style for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the Golden Voice narrator’s skills at bringing this story about class and regret to life. Merlin Grainger’s entire life is a series of missed moments and frustrated hopes, punctuated by the mysterious appearances of a dazzlingly beautiful woman he dubs Caroline--but Merlin goes on to pursue a less fulfilling relationship with a different woman. Jackson’s deliciously vibrant narration brings to life Fitzgerald’s pointed examinations of class and social aspiration. This all-too-brief production will leave listeners wanting more. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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Celebrating Michael Crouch, 2021 Golden Voice Narrator

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss the remarkable vocal agility of narrator Michael Crouch, newly named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. He is brilliant at helping listeners make an emotional connection with characters; he has a versatile voice, bringing stories to life with fluent accents, subtle shifts, and exceptional timing. Michael gives listeners a powerful bond with characters of any age, whether it’s capturing Simon’s voice in Becky Albertalli’s smash hit SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA or voicing Lydia Fitzgerald’s impactful and fascinating LIGHTS ALL NIGHT LONG. Robin shares a sound sample from the latter and more thoughts on Michael’s skilled narrations. Read the full review of LIGHTS ALL NIGHT LONG on AudioFile’s website.

Look for Michael Crouch’s longform interview with Jo Reed on our podcast on June 11.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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Celebrating Soneela Nankani, 2021 Golden Voice Narrator

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss new Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani and her animated and lively storytelling style. Her clear connections with characters draw listeners into any story, helping listeners share all the feelings in roller-coaster romances like ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Heron. Her skills with accents mean audiobooks come alive with her narrations, and she has a special gift with the worldbuilding necessary for fantasy, especially for younger listeners. Robin shares her thoughts on Soneela’s narration of Roshani Chokshi’s middle-grade fantasy ARU SHAH AND THE CITY OF GOLD, along with a clip. Read the full review on AudioFile’s website.

Look for a longform interview with Soneela Nankani from Jo Reed on our podcast on June 18.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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Celebrating Cassandra Campbell, 2021 Golden Voice Narrator

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the many talents of narrator Cassandra Campbell, one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voices. Cassandra does a spectacular job narrating historical fiction and is able to convey all of the pertinent details that set a story in time and place. She explores the emotional tone of each character, and her voice has a lightness about it that seems to convey her interest in and ease with the characters. Robin shares thoughts on recent favorites narrated by Cassandra, including a selection from Beatriz Williams’s OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW, which Cassandra co-narrated with Nicola Barber. Read the full review of the audiobook on our website.

Look for Cassandra Campbell’s full interview with Jo Reed on June 25th here on the Behind the Mic podcast.

Learn more about all of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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AudioFile’s Golden Voices

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile is excited to announce three new Golden Voice narrators for 2021 — Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, and Soneela Nankani. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about this lifetime achievement award that goes to the stars of the narrating universe. AudioFile has bestowed the Golden Voice prize on just 34 voice artists, including George Guidall, Bahni Turpin, Simon Vance, Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan, and Scott Brick. The award celebrates an artist’s iconic role in the field of narration and honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. Robin and Jo each share thoughts and clips from two Golden Voice narrators who helped them discover the joy of listening to audiobooks decades ago -- narrators Simon Prebble and Barbara Caruso.

Find the complete list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators on our website.

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THE BUBBE DIARIES by Paula Span, read by Paula Span

Mon, 31 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

You don’t have to be a grandparent to enjoy this brief but compelling compendium of wisdom on grandparenting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this fun listen from Paula Span, a professor of journalism and author who narrates her lively guide to grandparenting with warmth. She explores issues to help ease the transition into grandparenthood—the dilemma of what to be called as a grandparent, her battle to not be too overbearing, and new research into child safety. This delightful listen has all the hallmarks of an intimate conversation over a friend’s kitchen table. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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JO JO MAKOONS by Dawn Quigley, read by Jennifer Bobiwash

Fri, 28 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

First Nations theater artist Jennifer Bobiwash captures the enthusiastic voice of first-grader Jo Jo Makoons in her lively narration of Dawn Quigley’s audiobook for young listeners. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all the many reasons she loved listening to Jo Jo’s stories as told through Bobiwash’s expressive narration. Jo Jo is seven years old, proudly Ojibwe, and growing up with her mother and grandmother on a fictional reservation. She also knows how to get in trouble and will have listeners laughing (hard!) over her antics and goofy rhymes. This delightful start to an early chapter book series is not to be missed. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio.

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JUNETEENTH FOR MAZIE by Floyd Cooper, read by Rhett Samuel Price, Tyla Collier

Thu, 27 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Dual narrators bring reverence and joy to Floyd Cooper’s audiobook about the June 19 anniversary known as Juneteenth. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audio adaptation of the much-loved picture book. Tyla Collier’s youthful voice portrays Mazie, who is tired of being told “no.” Then, in Rhett Samuel Price’s deep, rich voice, Mazie’s father explains the story of their enslaved ancestor’s struggles and perseverance, and the joy of hearing about the Emancipation Proclamation. Cheerful music provides an uplifting background as listeners hear a broad history of Juneteenth commemorations from then to today. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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HOW THE WORD IS PASSED by Clint Smith, read by Clint Smith

Wed, 26 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Poet and journalist Clint Smith’s debut work of nonfiction captivates as he explores the ways that we confront and reckon with the legacy of American slavery. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed of the power of hearing the work in Smith’s own voice, which moves with a poet’s rhythm as he takes listeners to former plantations, on historical tours, and to Angola Prison. Listeners meet those who are working to explore the gaps in our historical records and uncover the true history of these sites--and also those who are willfully ignoring the historical record, relying instead on shared nostalgia. Listening makes a lasting impact. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

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WHILE JUSTICE SLEEPS by Stacey Abrams, read by Adenrele Ojo, Stacey Abrams [Intro.]

Tue, 25 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adenrele Ojo marshals listeners through Stacey Abrams’s complicated legal-political-medical thriller with ease. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the engaging, fast-paced plot involving the Supreme Court, weaponized genetics, and a corrupt president. At the center is the brilliant Supreme Court clerk Avery Keene, whom Ojo portrays with just the right amount of emotion as she goes from a hard-working clerk to being thrust into the center of a wide-ranging conspiracy. Ojo’s clear vocal differentiation will help listeners follow the points of view of the many characters, making for a smart and intense listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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FUGITIVE TELEMETRY by Martha Wells, read by Kevin R. Free

Mon, 24 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Kevin R. Free narrates the latest Murderbot novella, in which nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this much-loved sci-fi series starring a “construct made of cloned human tissue, augments, anxiety, depression, and unfocused rage,” and Free’s engaging and empathetic portrayal of this SecUnit. When a dead body shows up on Preservation Station, Murderbot enters into an uneasy partnership with station security to discover who the victim was, and why they were shot--and if it has anything to do with the sinister corporation from their past. Free creates a deeply relatable portrait of an individual struggling to find their place in an often hostile and confusing world, while also taking listeners through a fast-paced murder mystery--in space! Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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THE SINFUL LIFE OF LUCY BURNS by Elizabeth Leiknes, read by Corinthia M. Soukup

Fri, 21 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Corinthia Soukup provides the perfect voice for this quirky novel by Elizabeth Leiknes. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of Lucy Burns, who, as a child, wrote a letter “to whom it may concern” to try and save the life of her sister. It turns out that she inadvertently struck a deal with the devil, and now she must act as the facilitator for hell and stay forever single. But Lucy’s looking for a way out. Soukup’s narration illuminates the humor in the writing as hijinks ensue. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bancroft Press.

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TAKEOVER by Noah Feldman, Lidia Jean Kott, read by Noah Feldman

Thu, 20 May 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Harvard law professor Noah Feldman narrates his examination of the Federalist Society, the conservative organization that has had a heavy sway on the members of the Supreme Court. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook that feels more like a podcast, with audio clips, commentary, and interviews that seek to fill out the picture of this group and their influence. It takes listeners on a deep dive into the idea of being an Originalist judge, and also explores the American Constitution Society, which is the liberal counterpoint organization. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Pushkin Industries.

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FIRST LOVE by Ivan Turgenev, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Wed, 19 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini gives the Garnett translation of Turgenev’s classic novella a wonderfully expressive reading. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this work first published in 1860—an older man’s recollection of his adolescent crush on a neighboring princess. Thanks to Ballerini’s narration, the listener definitely feels the youthful infatuation, and the young man’s pain when his heart is broken. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Sylo Studios.

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THE SET UP by Falguni Kothari, read by Soneela Nankani, Vikas Adam

Tue, 18 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam narrate an entertaining romance from Falguni Kothari. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this short novella that follows doctor Aditi and lawyer Krishna, two Indian American characters whose grandparents push them to explore dating one another. Both narrators capture Aditi and Krishna’s personalities, along with the chemistry between the initially unenthusiastic would-be-couple. A fun and quick listen for romance enthusiasts. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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YOU ARE READY FOR TAKEOFF by Susan Orlean, read by Susan Orlean

Mon, 17 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Author Susan Orlean narrates a short essay about overcoming her fear of flying. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss her introspective narration. Orlean highlights her phobia and the path she took to overcome it, including hypnosis. Orlean’s experience is shared with a touch of humor, and coming in at 40 minutes, it’s an enlightening and short production for anyone interested in exploring the topic. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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FOOD AMERICANA by David Page, read by Jonathan Yen

Fri, 14 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Yen is an engaging and engaged narrator of this tour of American foods. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Yen’s evident joy and sense of fun as he narrates David Page’s exploration of comfort food and folkways. Page is the show runner for Dinners, Drive-ins and Dives, and he has a skill with interviewing those who run historic eateries. Yen narrates in a conversational and informative manner, well serving the text. Listen for many profiles and plenty of recipes to try. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media.

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FIERCE POISE by Alexander Nemerov, read by Alison Fraser

Thu, 13 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Alison Fraser’s ability to deliver character voices and accents is on display in this biography of mid-twentieth-century painter Helen Frankenthaler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff talk about this audiobook by Alexander Nemerov, which is at once an appreciation of a major figure and a close look at the avant-garde scene of 1950s New York City. Fraser narrates with skill, capturing the times with excellent imitations, most notably Frankenthaler’s airy upper-class sounding speech. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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FIRST PERSON SINGULAR by Haruki Murakami, Philip Gabriel [Trans.], read by Kotaro Watanabe

Wed, 12 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Kotaro Watanabe’s performance gently pulls listeners into Murakami’s imaginary worlds. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how his flat delivery makes the plot unfold like a morning paper, while the action arrives deliberately. While magic happens in the stories, the characters often seem listless, even as the setting feels surreal. Watanabe maintains the sense of unease and disconnection that pervades this audiobook where magical realism reigns, and he makes sure that each story will linger with the listener. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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STOP SAVING THE PLANET! by Jenny Price, read by Hillary Huber

Tue, 11 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Hillary Huber narrates this intrepid audiobook with controlled irony. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Huber’s plaintive interrogative tone highlights Jenny Price’s striking critique of why so little has been achieved in five decades of battling climate change. The talented narration of this environmental manifesto is critical to its message -- why have governments and corporations done so little for the planet and the poor, and why are they still allowed to pollute the earth? The question shouldn’t be “What can I do?” but “What needs to be done?” Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Tantor Media

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WINTER IN THE BLOOD by James Welch, Joy Harjo [Fore.], Louise Erdrich [Intro.], read by Darrell Dennis, Tanis Parenteau [Intro.]

Mon, 10 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Darrell Dennis captures the angst of the unnamed narrator in James Welch’s classic novel of modern Native Americans on the Great Plains. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Dennis’s ability to shift between the flat dialogue of ranch life and the lyricism of the Western setting. The unnamed narrator is alienated from all and is defined by self-awareness and woe. Dennis is able to express the audiobook’s humor and pathos, as well as the tension of Native life on and off the reservation. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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DREAMERS by Yuyi Morales, read by Adriana Sananes

Fri, 07 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this captivating adaptation of Yuyi Morales’s beloved picture book. Adriana Sananes narrates the simple text with a hopeful spirit, mirroring the tale of a young family coming to America and finding themselves unintentional migrants. Lilting guitar music, the giggles of a baby, wind chimes, and more sound effects set the scenes as Morales tells of exploring a new country, and the joys of finding the free public library. Listen with the book in hand to enjoy the award-winning illustrations from Morales. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Dreamscape.

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THE YEAR I FLEW AWAY by Marie Arnold, read by Marie Arnold

Thu, 06 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Marie Arnold shines in this enchanting audiobook about immigrating from Haiti to Brooklyn in 1985. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Arnold’s lively narration of the funny and bold Gabrielle, a 10-year-old who has moved to America ahead of her parents. Gabrielle is struggling to fit in amongst her bullying classmates and her already settled family. She jumps at a witch’s offer to make a simple trade to become the “perfect American girl.” Of course, nothing goes as planned, and she relies on new friends and her own wits to recover what was lost. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

AudioFile is hosting a webinar at 12 ET on May 6th featuring children’s and teen audiobooks to inspire conversations around immigration in schools and at home. Join to hear live readings and discussions with narrators Priya Ayyar, Marisa Blake, and Anthony Rey Perez, and Kirsten Cappy of I’m Your Neighbor Books. Sponsored by Dreamscape Audio. Register here.

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EFRÉN DIVIDED by Ernesto Cisneros, read by Anthony Rey Perez

Wed, 05 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Anthony Rey Perez’s voice is full of heart and hope in this moving novel from Ernesto Cisneros. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story for middle-grade listeners that tells of one family’s fear and determination in face of separation Efrén Nava is a 12-year-old whose mother is suddenly deported for being undocumented, and listeners hear his fear and worry over her fate, and his father’s. Suddenly balancing care for his younger siblings and his responsibilities at school, Efrén slowly learns that there are many in his community who will rise up to help his family in their time of need. Perez’s warm English and Spanish narration enlivens the characters and makes for an ultimately hopeful audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (A True Story) by Daniel Nayeri, read by Daniel Nayeri

Tue, 04 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Daniel Nayeri intrigues listeners from start to finish with his powerful autobiographical novel for children, a finalist for both the Audie Award and the National Book Award. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Nayeri’s patchwork of compelling stories woven from Persian history and myth, and stories from his own childhood. Listeners go back and forth in time, hearing of his early childhood in Iran, their escape, his time as a refugee in Italy, and starting over with his mother and sister in Oklahoma. Nayeri’s story was made to be listened to. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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AMINA'S SONG by Hena Khan, read by Soneela Nankani

Mon, 03 May 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Soneela Nankani returns to voice seventh grader Amina, whom listeners met in Hena Kahn’s AMINA’S VOICE. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Nankani’s skill at bringing the characters to life and conveying all of Amina’s joy and delight in visiting family in Pakistan. When Amina returns home to the U.S., she’s surprised to find her friends aren’t as interested in hearing about her time in Pakistan, and her classmates are fearful after a presentation she gives on Malala Yousafzai’s life and activism. Listeners will enjoy hearing Amina’s creative ways to help others see beyond the stereotypes of her family and their country, and her growing confidence in herself. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE LADY WITH THE GUN ASKS THE QUESTIONS by Kerry Greenwood, read by Wendy Bos

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Fans will be absolutely delighted by this collection of short stories featuring author Kerry Greenwood’s irrepressible Phryne Fisher. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how narrator Wendy Bos brings the sultry, smart, sophisticated lady detective to life. She is in step with Greenwood’s witty dialogue and detailed descriptions of luxurious clothes, delectable food, and fine young men. A totally engaging listen, ideal for fans of the series. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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A growing collection of Naxos AudioBooks Podcasts, featuring our readers, producers and directors introducing a wide variety of titles at naxosaudiobooks.com/category/podcasts/

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A TIME OF FEAR by Albert Marrin, read by Jason Culp

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Jason Culp relies on careful modulation to convey this nuanced, comprehensive examination of a dangerous time in twentieth-century history—the period of the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Culp’s approachable performance of Albert Marrin’s nonfiction audiobook for teens. Culp delivers the words of famous leaders with slight accents or impressions and narrates the most blatant examples of propaganda with a suitable hint of sarcasm. As for everyday communists, Culp successfully infuses them with humanity, underscoring that they genuinely believed, albeit often mistakenly, that the end justifies the means. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library.

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A growing collection of Naxos AudioBooks Podcasts, featuring our readers, producers and directors introducing a wide variety of titles at naxosaudiobooks.com/category/podcasts/

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SENSATIONAL by Kim Todd, read by Maggi-Meg Reed

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten dive into Kim Todd’s accomplished history of the female “stunt reporters” of the late nineteenth century. The audiobook is a sensational adventure for the ears, and narrator Maggi-Meg Reed is the ideal choice to deliver the narratives of women journalists who donned disguises and alternate identities to go undercover. Reed’s intelligent and fully engaged tone makes clear the significance of their investigations as vehicles for societal change, and as positive representation of women of this era. A terrific pairing of an impressive work of nonfiction and a splendid performer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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A growing collection of Naxos AudioBooks Podcasts, featuring our readers, producers and directors introducing a wide variety of titles at naxosaudiobooks.com/category/podcasts/

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THE NIGHT GATE by Peter May, read by Peter Forbes

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

A great example of the magic that happens when a masterful author and a talented narrator come together to deliver a captivating story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Peter Forbes’s skill at performing the prolific Scottish mystery author Peter May’s latest. When forensic scientist Enzo Macleod is drawn out of retirement to advise on the body of a WWII soldier that was exposed by an uprooted tree, he happens into a current murder investigation. The two stories, set 70 years apart, are seamlessly woven together. Listeners will hang on till the end and then wish it weren’t over. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Quercus Editions Limited.

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As an English writer who reflected and highlighted the social issues of his time, Charles Dickens has no equal. Naxos AudioBooks salutes his towering gift with a remarkable series of audiobooks, providing an unmatched picture of his time as he breathed life into the myriad issues of the Victorian era through his vast range of entertaining, sympathetic, and frightening characters.

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THE LAST GARDEN IN ENGLAND by Julia Kelly, read by Shiromi Arserio, Marisa Calin, Danielle Cohen, Katherine Littrell, Siobhan Waring

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

The inviting performances of Marisa Calin, Shiromi Arserio, Katherine Littrell, Danielle Cohen, and Siobhan Waring add to the immersive pleasure of this engaging historical novel by bestselling author Julia Kelly. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss an intriguing story setting: the English garden at Highbury House over three generations, complete with romance, tragedy, and secrets. Set alternately in 1907, 1944, and the present day, the plot follows compelling written characters with affecting lives and interesting personal challenges, all connected to one another by Highbury’s gardens. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Shakespeare inspired over 25 titles for Charles Dickens writings. Like the story of Hamlet, David Copperfield is the story of the boy trying to control his own destiny despite the duties he feels obligated to fulfill. Listen at Naxos AudioBooks.

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HEROINE by Mary Jane Wells, read by Mary Jane Wells

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Mary Jane Wells wrote and performed this play, now audiobook, based on the life of Danna Davis, U.S. soldier, veteran, and survivor of military sexual trauma during the Iraq War. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about this moving audiobook, originally performed as a play at the Kennedy Center. Wells vocally becomes this ten-year veteran with vibrant and graphic, disturbing accounts of battles and other military experiences, PTSD, and bouts of grief interspersed with healing. Her voice is primary, and she is backed by a small cast with sounds effects and music to heighten the tension. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Mary Jane Wells.

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On the day we remember William Shakespeare, it is fitting to recognize an author Shakespeare inspired: Herman Melville. The Great American Novel Moby Dick draws on both Biblical and Shakespearean myths. Just as Macbeth and Lear subvert the natural order of things, Ahab takes on Nature in his determination to kill his prey…doomed from the start (The Guardian). Visit the Naxos Spoken Word Library to hear William Hootkin’s Audie and Earphones Award winning presentation!

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BELIEVE IT by Jamie Kern Lima, read by Jamie Kern Lima

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Listeners are invited to an intimate chat with Jamie Kern Lima on how she went from starting IT Cosmetics on a budget to selling the company for more than a billion dollars. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss her candid narration of her sacrifices and successes. The author conveys her emotions during personal and professional challenges, along with her awe at finally meeting Oprah. Lima leaves listeners with a toolbox of vital lessons learned as well as an inspiring meditation to get started on the path to their dreams. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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William Wordsworth’s The Prelude is his personal journey to a belief in Nature as the great moral and spiritual force which shapes human life, but on which human society all too often turned its back. “Nicholas Farrell's narration is intimate, not pompous, or bombastic. He articulates Wordsworth's ideas without forgetting this is verse but without overstressing the metrical regularity and variations.” (AudioFile)

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LOVE IS AN EX-COUNTRY by Randa Jarrar, read by Randa Jarrar

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Throughout this absorbing memoir-in-essays, there are moments where you can hear laughter beneath author Randa Jarrrar’s narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this journey across the U.S., told by Palestinian American writer and professor Jarrar. Her warm, no-nonsense tone adds levity to the heavy subject matter, which includes domestic abuse and sexual violence. But her laughing voice, sly asides and obvious affection for friends and lovers also highlight what make this a memorable listen: her exuberance, self-love, and pride in her identity as a fat, queer, Arab American woman. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio.

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Religions of the World tells the remarkable story of some of the faiths which have helped to shape the way we live today. Aimed at younger listeners, it introduces the history and scriptures, beliefs and customs of some of humanity’s most enduring religious traditions.

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WALKING WITH GHOSTS by Gabriel Byrne, read by Gabriel Byrne

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Irish actor Gabriel Byrne’s smoky voice whispers in your ear, gets in your head, and takes you on a deeply personal journey of his life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this memoir written in a style that feels like stream-of-consciousness poetry, with a gorgeous narration. Byrne reveals his attraction to the rituals of the Church, his desire to become a priest—until he was molested by a priest—finding his way into acting, and his struggles with addiction. A fantastic recording of a well-written book, this memorable autobiography is outstanding. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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Edgar Allen Poe’s story, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, first appeared on today's date. "Naxos ties up a great package of dramatic performances with a wonderful selection of classical music between chapters for this tale (AudioFile)"...generally considered to be the first detective story.

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PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, read by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author and podcast Luvvie Ajayi Jones narrates her second manual for authentic living with flair. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss her straightforward approach and conversational style that will have listeners nodding along. According to Jones, to be a professional troublemaker is to have a clear sense of personal identity and the ability to act without fear. She guides listeners through the many common pitfalls of fear and how to combat them. Jones lovingly references her Yoruba heritage, especially her boisterous grandmother, as a source of wisdom and fearlessness. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio.

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From David Copperfield: My father had left a small collection of books in a little room upstairs, to which I had access…They kept alive my fancy, and my hope of something beyond that place and time.” While you are waiting for your next Audiobook Break, come visit David’s “glorious host” - Roderick Random, Tom Jones, the Vicar of Wakefield, Don Quixote, and Robinson Crusoe at the Naxos Spoken Word Library unlimited streaming service.

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HOW IT ENDS by Rachel Howzell Hall, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s warm and vibrant voice embodies Marti Greenwood in Rachel Howzell Hall’s chilling and fast-paced suspense novella. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this new audiobook that is perfect for your weekend listening. Marti, a writer, is trying to carve out a new life for herself away from her ex-husband, Emery. She’s just moved into a new home in L.A. with fresh oranges and cheerful neighbors—mostly. When she’s attacked in her home, Abbott-Pratt has listeners sharing Marti’s terror and her lingering trauma afterwards. Listeners won’t want to put the audiobook down while Marti is determined to find her attacker. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc.

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The Lyrids meteor shower can be seen April 16 -25, great family fun! In Jen Green’s The Planets and The Solar System, narrator Ruth Sillers treats young listeners and their families to an impressive scope of space information. “Given Sillers’s lively sense of wonder, the listener can’t help but be impressed by the vastness of the universe and our newfound knowledge of it.” (AudioFile)

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ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Heron, read by Soneela Nankani

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Soneela Nankani narrates Farah Heron’s delightful contemporary romance with her whole heart, drawing listeners in with her enthusiasm. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss her skill at embodying the main character, Reena Manji, who has a job she doesn’t love and anxieties about her meddling Indian Muslim family. When she bumps into her new across-the-hall neighbor Nadim Remtulla, she’s initially intrigued by his British accent and easy charm--and then appalled when she learns her parents have arranged their marriage! Nankani takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster ride as Reena and Nadim navigate their growing attraction, a fake engagement scheme, a Canadian reality-TV cooking contest, and explosive family secrets. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Observe the birth of Henry James with The Spoils of Poynton, performed by Juliet Stevenson. "Juliet Stevenson's love of reading aloud is obvious to anyone lucky enough to hear her." (AudioFile)

On April 15, join a live talk with celebrated narrators of David Copperfield — Martin Jarvis, Simon Vance, Derek Perkins, and Nicholas Boulton each talk about how they approach the memorable characters of Charles Dickens’s DAVID COPPERFIELD. Register for the live talk.

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FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, read by Isabella Star LaBlanc

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Emily Connelly and host Jo Reed discuss Angeline Boulley’s stunning debut and Isabella Star LaBlanc’s powerful narration. Set on state and tribal lands in Michigan, the story of Daunis, who has grown up between two cultures, is told with heartfelt compassion. While Daunis is an unenrolled tribal member, she has strong connections to her community and has chosen to stay home and take classes at the local community college to be near family. When tragedy strikes, she is suddenly caught up in an FBI investigation into a new form of meth tearing through her town. LaBlanc’s compelling narration, including skilled pronunciations of words in the Anishinaabe language, combined with the riveting plot truly makes this a young adult audiobook not to miss. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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In April, 1963, Winston Churchill was the first foreign national to receive honorary United States citizenship. An elegantly written tribute to the man and his place in history can be heard in Farewell the Trumpets: An Imperial Retreat; “Roy McMillan’s reading glows with the same infectious passion for the subject as Jan Morris’s own.” (The Observer).

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OUR FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR by A.E. Ali, read by Almarie Guerra

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss A.E. Ali’s sweet and comforting picture book, which Almarie Guerra narrates with a warm voice, perfect for young listeners. On Musa’s first day of kindergarten, his welcoming teacher, Ms. Gupta, promises the class that they will all become friends. Sweet-voiced Musa is worried, but Ms. Gupta provides a fun topic for the class—what is everyone’s favorite day of the year? Musa is surprised and delighted to find that the other children all have their own favorite days, and each enjoys getting a turn in the spotlight sharing their favorites, including Edi al-Fitr, Rosh Hashanah, Las Posadas, and Pi Day. It makes for a comforting listen for children, especially in this tumultuous school year. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.

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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award, narrator David Rintoul sweeps listeners into historian Alistair Moffat's tapestry of memoir, journalism, and religious history in To the Island of Tides: A Journey to Lindisfarne. “…a perfect blend of narrator, author, production team, and unique subject.” (AudioFile)

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THE ECHO WIFE by Sarah Gailey, read by Xe Sands

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Xe Sands narrates with a quiet tension that suits the slow creep of Sarah Gailey’s sci-fi domestic thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Sands’s skill with delivering all of the slowly building suspense in a smooth first-person narration. Evelyn Caldwell is an accomplished scientist in the field of cloning human adults, although her victories feel bittersweet. Her husband, Nathan, is having an affair, but the sweet-voiced Martine isn’t just another woman--Nathan has used Evelyn’s own research techniques to create a domestic and illegal clone of Evelyn herself. It makes for a satisfying, if disturbing audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio

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Galileo was convicted of heresy for holding the belief that the Earth revolves around the sun: Younger listeners learn more about scientists and their impactful discoveries in the Junior Classics series Great Scientists and their Discoveries by David Angus, his companion volume to Great Inventors and their Inventions from Naxos AudioBooks. “Clare Corbett and Benjamin Soames narrate conversationally, making the information vibrant.” (AudioFile)

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THE WOMAN WHO STOLE VERMEER by Anthony M. Amore, read by Karen Cass

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Karen Cass vividly reads this captivating audiobook from Anthony M. Amore. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this true story of a 1970s aristocrat turned revolutionary. Wealthy Rose Dugdale, who begins as a conservative debutante who attends Oxford and earns a Ph.D in Economics, transforms into a radical supporter of the IRA She not only becomes a political revolutionary but masterminds a world-class art theft, including a Vermeer. Cass situates the listener with her apt English and Irish accents. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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Earphones Award Winner Bill Homewood talks to Raymond Bisha about the story of King Arthur and Thomas Malory’s much-loved reinterpretation Le Morte d’Arthur at Naxos AudioBooks Podcasts.

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VERA by Carol Edgarian, read by Kathe Mazur

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Kathe Mazur carefully crafts the diverse characters in this entertaining novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Mazur’s talented narration of Carol Edgarian’s VERA, a riveting story set in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake. Mazur’s rendition of whip-smart 15-year-old Vera captures her ability to see all sides of people, good and bad. Listeners will vividly imagine turn-of-the-century San Francisco, replete with scoundrels and kindly prostitutes. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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April is the month that birds migrate north to settle down for the summer. Revive in yourself that old spring feeling, the passion for wild nature, with W.H. Hudson’s Birds in Town and Village, read with an easy, relaxed tone by Neville Jason: which Goodreads called “It is unfailingly charming…”

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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN EX-COLORED MAN by James Weldon Johnson, read by David Sadzin

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss David Sadzin’s performance of this classic 1912 novel which is described as evocative, even poetic. James Weldon Johnson tells the unnamed man’s story in the first person, and Sadzin re-creates the character’s intimate and intelligent tone and catches the cadence of his self-conscious yet assured voice. Race, race relations, and the complex story of passing for white provide the sociological underpinnings of this short but compelling audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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April 2021 marks the 25th annual celebration of poets and poetry with National Poetry Month. Nicholas Farrell delivers an inspiring work of imagination from the William Wordsworth autobiography in verse, The Prelude: according to our reviewer at AudioFile The Prelude “ is an essential listen for anyone interested in the roots of Romanticism.”

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THE MAN WHO ATE TOO MUCH by John Birdsall, read by Daniel Henning

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Performed with grace and care, Daniel Henning’s outstanding narration of this fine biography reveals, warts and all, the larger-than-life James Beard. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss John Birdsall’s biography of the renowned chef who is considered the dean of American cookery. Henning narrates with intelligence at a good pace, and gives the elegant prose its due. It’s an audiobook filled with luscious descriptions of places, meals, and people, and the author deftly handles the essential truth of Beard’s life: He rose to fame as a closeted gay man in homophobic postwar America. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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After a fifteen hundred year break, the first Olympics of the modern era took place on April 6, 1896 in Athens. A History of the Olympics is a unique audiobook, our review at AudioFile said: “Barry Davis announces the history in an enjoyable, breezy manner.” Written by sports journalist John Goodbody, with a fascinating personal documentary featuring one of Britain’s leading Olympians, Sebastian Coe.

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THE BLIZZARD PARTY by Jack Livings, read by Rebecca Lowman

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how this audiobook absorbs the listener from its prologue to its end. Narrator Rebecca Lowman presents the many complex characters with just the right pace and carefully acts the various voices. Lowman particularly illuminates the character of Hazel Saltwater, an introspective, damaged seer whose life is indelibly marked by events that take place on the night of February 6 during the Blizzard of ‘78. Jack Livings’s novel has mystery, mayhem, and sci-fi, flashing forward and back as it revels in the lost world of late 1970s Manhattan. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States, Booker T. Washington is remembered today. Hear his 1908 Atlanta Exposition Address in the Naxos AudioBooks production, Voices of Black America, now on Spotify.

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BENEFICENCE by Meredith Hall, read by Cassandra Campbell, Tom Taylorson, Rachel Jacobs

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrators Cassandra Campbell, Tom Taylorson, and Rachel Jacobs channel each member of the close-knit Senter family. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Meredith Hall’s audiobook, told with stunning performances that put listeners in the heart of the family before, during, and after a tragedy that changes the family forever. Set in the years spanning 1933 to the 1960s on a family farm in Maine and told in individual monologues, this beautiful, haunting story, performed with sensitivity, is best enjoyed on audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

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Lew Wallace's Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ could be said to be the first American blockbuster. Jeff Harding’s vivid reading combines all the best elements of popular classic, epic and action story against a background of authoritative historical detail. Celebrate this Easter season with a “heart-of-the-book” production from Naxos AudioBooks.

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THINKING AGAIN by Jan Morris, read by Jennifer M. Dixon

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Jan Morris’s piquant, irreverent daily diary about life as a nonagenarian in the 21st century is brought to vibrant life by narrator Jennifer M. Dixon. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the late Morris’s observations on everything from world politics to neighborhood birds, aging, and family. Dixon is skilled at mirroring the author’s humor and essential kindness, encouraging us to savor her wisdom and honor her “equilibriumist” approach to life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website.

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April is SCOTTISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. Some of our most iconic American literature, including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Raven, are credited to tartan proud Scottish Americans. Adam Sims performs examples of early American fiction from Washington Irving and Edgar Allen Poe’s only complete novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym, at naxosaudiobooks.com

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THE CODE BREAKER by Walter Isaacson, read by Kathe Mazur, Walter Isaacson

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Kathe Mazur narrates Walter Isaacson’s clear and well-researched biography of Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna. She, along with colleagues, advanced biochemistry by employing CRISPR technology to improve and simplify genetic engineering—ultimately leading to a safe and effective COVID vaccine. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this audiobook that explores Doudna’s scientific achievements and the broader contexts. Mazur’s personable delivery and measured pace help listeners access the science and connect to Doudna’s research. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin.

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YOU DON'T BELONG HERE by Elizabeth Becker, read by Lisa Flanagan

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000

This is an extraordinary audiobook about four extraordinary women who were war correspondents—the three women who are the subject of Becker’s book, as well as the author herself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Lisa Flanagan’s skill with her pitch-perfect narration in this account of trailblazing women. Flanagan moves from the harrowing action on the battlefields of Vietnam to the high-society backgrounds of the future journalists. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEAR by Jacqueline Winspear, read by Orlagh Cassidy

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Narrator Orlagh Cassidy returns to transport listeners back to bomb-shattered London of 1941. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this long-running series, which has followed Maisie Dobbs from her time as a WWI nurse to her role working with the Special Operations Executive. Jacqueline Winspear’s attention to the details of time, place, and speech, paired with Cassidy’s spot-on performance, make for an engaging and authentic listening experience. In the 16th in the series, Maisie is investigating a murder, and she finds herself in a complex situation involving British and French intelligence agents. She struggles between her duty to serve her country and her dedication to her child. A deeply moving listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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Humor: 2021 Audie Awards

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

In our final look at the 2021 Audie Awards, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about some of the funniest audiobooks in the Audies competition--the nominees for the Humor award. It’s a category where comedians shine, full of audiobooks that will make you laugh out loud.

The finalists for the 2021 Audie Awards Humor audiobooks are:

THE NEW ONE by Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, read by Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein, published by Hachette Audio

NOTHING LIKE I IMAGINED by Mindy Kaling, read by Mindy Kaling, published by Brilliance Audio

SMALL DOSES by Amanda Seales, read by Amanda Seales, published by Audible, Inc.

SURRENDER, WHITE PEOPLE! by D.L. Hughley, Doug Moe, read by D.L. Hughley, published by Harper Audio

A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE by Colin Jost, read by Colin Jost, published by Random House Audio

WOW, NO THANK YOU. by Samantha Irby, read by Samantha Irby, published by Random House Audio

Congratulations to this year’s winner, A VERY PUNCHABLE FACE written and narrated by Colin Jost. Hear a clip from the winner and more about the audiobook in today’s episode.

Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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Young Adult: 2021 Audie Awards

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Hear host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb share details about the winner of the Best Young Adult audiobook. This year’s nominees include audiobooks that were beautifully narrated by the authors themselves as well as those brought to life by professional narrators. Be sure to watch our discussion with the celebrity judges of the Young Adult Audies category, authors Jerry Craft, Melissa de la Cruz, and V.E. Schwab, on our website.

The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Young Adult audiobooks are:

CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo, read by Elizabeth Acevedo, Melania-Luisa Marte, published by Harper Audio

EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE by Daniel Nayeri, read by Daniel Nayeri, published by Listening Library

POISONED by Jennifer Donnelly, read by Rosie Jones, published by Scholastic Audiobooks

A SONG BELOW WATER by Bethany C. Morrow, read by Jennifer Haralson, Andrea Lang, published by Macmillan Audio

THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson, read by Bahni Turpin, published by Listening Library

Congratulations to Elizabeth Acevedo and Melania-Luisa Marte for their win for CLAP WHEN YOU LAND, a beautiful and heartbreaking story of two sisters united by tragedy. Hear more about the winning audiobook, which also won in the Multi-Voiced Performance category, in today’s episode.

Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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Best Female Narrator: 2021 Audie Awards

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed are discussing the 2021 Audie Awards all week. In today’s episode, they are celebrating the excellent nominees for Best Female Narrator, recognizing them for their excellent work on compelling audiobooks‚ and toasting this year’s winner.

The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Best Female Narrator are:

THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jemisin, read by Robin Miles, published by Hachette Audio

THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker, read by Samira Wiley, published by Audible, Inc.

THE LYING LIFE OF ADULTS by Elena Ferrante, read by Ann Goldstein, published by Random House Audio

ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware, read by Imogen Church, published by Simon & Schuster Audio

SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid, read by Nicole Lewis, published by Penguin Audio

Congratulations to this year’s winner of Best Female Narrator, Robin Miles for THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jemisin. Hear a clip from the winning audiobook and learn more about this captivating title that also took home the Fantasy award.

Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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Best Male Narrator: 2021 Audie Awards

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

We’re celebrating the Audie Awards all week with host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb. Today they’re discussing last night’s virtual gala and the winner of the Audie Award for Best Male Narrator, a category full of skilled performances.

The finalists for the 2021 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator are:

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst, published by Macmillan

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X by Malcolm X, Alex Haley, read by Laurence Fishburne, published by Audible, Inc.

THE GLIMME by Emily Rodda, read by Andrew Scott, published by Bolinda Audio

A MAN CALLED OVE by Fredrik Backman, read by George Newbern, published by Dreamscape

SQUEEZE ME by Carl Hiaasen, read by Scott Brick, published by Random House Audio

And congratulations to the winner, Laurence Fishburne’s stunning performance of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X by Malcolm X and Alex Haley. Hear a clip from the winning audiobook--which also won in the Autobiography/Memoir category--and learn more about the impact of this new recording of a powerful work.

Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin.

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Audiobook of the Year: 2021 Audie Awards

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss their excitement over the 2021 Audie Awards, the Audio Publishers Association’s annual celebration of audiobook excellence. Tonight is the 26th Audie Awards—watch the virtual gala starting at 8:30pm ET at the APA’s YouTube page.

Today, Jo and Michele are discussing the finalists in the Audiobook of the Year category, which are titles with high-quality content and production values and are recognized as benchmarks of excellence for the industry. Tune in tonight to hear the winner!

The finalists for the 2021 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year are:

THE DECISION: Overcoming Today's BS for Tomorrow's Success, by Kevin Hart, read by Kevin Hart, published by Audible, Inc.

MORE MYSELF: A Journey, by Alicia Keys, read by Alicia Keys, America Ferrera, Bono, Clive Davis, Craig Cook, DJ Walton, Jay-Z, Krucial, Leigh Blake, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Swizz Beats, Terri Augelo, published by Macmillan Audio

THE MOUNTAINS SING by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, read by Quyen Ngo, published by Dreamscape

PIRANESI by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor, published by Bloomsbury Publishing

WE'RE BETTER THAN THIS: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy, by Elijah Cummings, James Dale, read by Nancy Pelosi, Laurence Fishburne, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, published by Harper Audio

Find a full list of 2021 Audie Award finalists and winners at theaudies.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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LEGACY by Nikki Grimes, read by Bahni Turpin, Karole Foreman, Zakiya Young, Janina Edwards

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Four narrators create a striking collection of voices that explore and celebrate little-known poems of Black women from the Harlem Renaissance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this collection from poet Nikki Grimes that alternates a Harlem Renaissance poem with an original poem based on the work, using the golden shovel composition form. Bahni Turpin narrates Grimes’s poems, as well as her introduction, with a lively and youthful voice. Karole Foreman, Zakia Young, and Janina Edwards alternate reading the historical poems. Turpin’s light tones for Grimes’s poems serve as a contemporary counterpoint to the deeper, more somber tones of the historical works. Both Emily and Jo highly recommend seeking out the print book to listen and read along, as the print book is packed with original illustrations from Black women artists. An excellent book for classrooms and families to explore. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Bloomsbury Publishing.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB by Malinda Lo, read by Emily Woo Zeller

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Emily Woo Zeller’s melodic narration transports listeners to 1950s San Francisco in this coming-of-age novel about family, first love, and a Chinese American teenager discovering herself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Malinda Lo’s YA historical fiction full of characters, places, and moments that Zeller beautifully brings to life. When Lily sees an ad for a male impersonator performing at the Telegraph Club, she is captivated by the idea and recognizes a longing within herself. Soon she’s sneaking out for heady nights at the Telegraph Club and falling for her friend Kath. As Lily becomes more comfortable in her own skin, Zeller’s narration becomes bolder and more confident. Be forewarned, this audiobook will break your heart—and mend it. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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ALL THIRTEEN by Christina Soontornvat, read by Quincy Surasmith

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Quincy Surasmith narrates this middle-grade work of nonfiction which depicts, in detail, the harrowing rescue of a youth soccer team stuck in a flooded cave in Thailand. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Christina Soontornvat’s impressive work and the skills Surasmith needed to bring it to life. The narrative swings from emotional tension when the author focuses on the boys or their parents to tactical precision when she explains the inner workings of the cave system. Surasmith navigates these changes expertly in his narration. This Newbery and Sibert Honor book makes for an informative and engaging yet pithy audiobook that is suitable for all audiences. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Brilliance Audio/Candlewick

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS by Chloe Gong, read by Cindy Kay

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Cindy Kay narrates a violent retelling of Romeo & Juliet set in the underworld of 1926 Shanghai with a cool voice that matches the tone of the story. Host Jo Reed & AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this captivating YA audiobook. Juliette Cai and Roma Montagov are members of opposing gangs who must work together to save their city from a horrifying new threat. Juliette is a fierce and angry young woman constantly defending her position in the Scarlet Gang, and Kay leans into the rage that Juliette experiences. Roma also faces threats to his role as the heir to the White Flower Gang, and listeners hear the weariness he feels. Roma and Juliette were in love years ago, before a betrayal tore them apart, and coming back together to discover the source of a madness sweeping the city brings up old feelings of longing. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Tantor Media.

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Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Real Hergé, the true story of the inspiration behind cultural phenomenon Tintin.

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ACT YOUR AGE, EVE BROWN by Talia Hibbert, read by Ione Butler

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Fall in love with Eve and Jacob in Talia Hibbert’s final Brown sisters novel, narrated with warmth and enthusiasm by Ione Butler. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this sweet, steamy, and hilarious romance. Eve has a hard time sticking to a career, and when her parents confront her, she drives off and stumbles across a picturesque B&B with a help wanted sign. Despite initially butting heads with the B&B’s owner, Jacob, Eve gets the job as the chef and discovers a love for taking care of others. Eve and Jacob slowly become friends, and then lovers, and they share a compatibility that sparkles thanks to Butler’s engaging narration. This is an audiobook that will have you laughing out loud, and it’s a delightful end to the trilogy. Read the full review of the audiobook. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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NO NAME by Wilkie Collins, read by Nicholas Boulton, Rachel Atkins, Russell Bentley, John Foley, David Rintoul, Lucy Scott

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Have you listened to a Victorian novel lately? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the joy of this ensemble narration of Wilkie Collins’s classic NO NAME. The talented Nicholas Boulton is the primary narrator, and his ability to mimic the elite and humble and capture their cadence and tone is unrivaled. His subtle inflections shape this long but satisfying performance. The stalwart cast transports listeners to 1840s London and the countryside. The novel is filled with unforgettable characters, and like his friend Dickens, Collins writes in torrents of descriptive prose and crafts a clever plot. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

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Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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THE THANKSGIVING PLAY by Larissa FastHorse, read by Ellis Greer, Josh Stamberg, Mark Jude Sullivan, Liza Weil

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

This four-character production from L.A. Theatre Works and playwright Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota Nation) is a send-up of woke culture, a satire of political correctness, and a most entertaining listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this production that captures the zeitgeist with controlled mayhem. Liza Weil plays well-meaning Logan, who is directing an elementary school drama production and trying her best to stitch together a “culturally sensitive” play about Native Americans with four white players, no script, and historical references that make every issue “an issue.” Ellis Greer’s Alicia, Josh Stamberg’s Jaxton, and Mark Jude Sullivan’s Caden give life to woke stereotypes. There’s an insightful interview with FastHorse, a MacArthur Fellow, at the audiobook’s conclusion. Published by L.A. Theatre Works

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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UNSOLACED by Gretel Ehrlich, read by Gretel Ehrlich

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

A practiced narrator and elegant stylist, Gretel Ehrlich delivers her memoir in a poetic voice. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how the author of THE SOLACE OF OPEN SPACES narrates in a conversational tone, making for a relaxed listening experience that belies the intense adventures she recounts. She travels to some of the most remote places on earth, mapping the ravages of climate change as she visits outposts in Greenland, Alaska, Zimbabwe, and Japan. She finds hope in the “re-wilding” efforts in Siberia and comfort in her Wyoming ranching life. This is a personal and soul-searching work, and a love song to places remote and forgotten. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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UNDER A WHITE SKY by Elizabeth Kolbert, read by Rebecca Lowman

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Rebecca Lowman is an excellent choice for Elizabeth Kolbert’s report on the future of our environment. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Lowman’s clear, precise narration that brings a sense of immediacy while bringing energy and intelligence to her narration. The audiobook examines the sinking of New Orleans, carbon capture in Iceland, invasive carp on the Mississippi river, and more. Kolbert, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is both an engaged writer and thoughtful witness to the daunting challenges ahead. Science writing has never been more important, and Kolbert’s audiobook deserves a wide audience. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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FOUR HUNDRED SOULS by Ibram X. Kendi, Keisha N. Blain [Eds.], read by JD Jackson, Kevin R. Free, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, Dion Graham, Angela Y. Davis, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and a Full Cast

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

An outstanding cast of 87 narrators brings these essays and poems vividly to life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this stunning audiobook collection of essays and poems covering 400 years of African American history. Of the many incandescent narrators called upon to bring the stories to life, JD Jackson (“Upon Arrival”), Kevin R. Free (“Cotton”), January LaVoy (“Sally Hemmings”), and Robin Miles (“Marroons and Maroonage”) are masterful. Ninety entries, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, encapsulate the African American experience from 1619 to 2019, and the authors tell stories both little and well known that together give the listener a symphony of voices that bring the complex, often horrific, history of Black people in the U.S. into relief. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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THE FOUR WINDS by Kristin Hannah, read by Julia Whelan

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Julia Whelan brings vivid characterizations to Kristin Hannah’s saga about the 1930s Dust Bowl, from the perspective of Elsa Wolcott. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Whelan’s skill at becoming characters and making us ache, smile, and cry for them, their hardships, and their grit. Elsa Wolcott is tall, gangly, unloved by her family, and trapped in a spinster’s life in a Texas panhandle town. An encounter with handsome Rafe Martinelli leads to a shotgun wedding, and they are unexpectedly content until the Depression, drought, and wind decimate the land and the people. With forceful narrative drive, Whelan delivers a compelling performance of Hannah’s memorable new novel. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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DUSK, NIGHT, DAWN by Anne Lamott, read by Anne Lamott

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Anne Lamott’s reading sounds relaxed at first, but as the audio unfolds and listeners come to know how she sees the world, her tone and pacing begin to sound beautiful. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Anne Lamott’s narration of her memoir and how her stream of consciousness style is well suited to audio. She’s a snappy storyteller who charms with her self-effacing perspectives and humanitarian sensibilities. Lamott’s observations, heard in her own voice, are a wonderful way to tap into some of her warmth and wisdom. Published by Penguin Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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NEVER FAR AWAY by Michael Koryta, read by Robert Petkoff

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Petkoff narrates a thriller that ricochets listeners from a Florida swamp to the wilds of northern Maine. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about Petkoff’s skill narrating this fast-paced listen. Nina once testified against her wealthy boss when his lethal crimes were revealed, and she was forced to leave her husband and young kids behind in order to protect them. Ten years later, her husband is killed in a car accident, and her children follow instructions to find her. Soon two groups of hired guns come after them--but who’s hunting whom? Petkoff keeps listeners engaged through myriad plot twists. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of The Last Queen. Simon Vance narrates a revelatory new biography of Queen Elizabeth and the royal Windsor family.

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SMOKE by Joe Ide, read by Zeno Robinson

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Zeno Robinson returns to narrate the fifth in Ide’s IQ series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Robinson’s skilled narration that grounds this audiobook using his gift for dialogue and skill with action sequences. Robinson eases listeners inside Isaiah Quintabe’s (IQ’s) weary mind as he departs L.A. to look for peace and rejuvenation in Northern California. But trouble follows, and Robinson accelerates the tempo as IQ traps a blackmailer, catches a serial killer, and prevents corporate backstabbing. Robinson is terrific with dialogue, and thankfully there’s lots of it. Published by Hachette Audio.

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SUMMERWATER by Sarah Moss, read by Morven Christie

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Morven Christie’s limpid, Scottish-inflected voice and gentle, enticing tone combine to lure listeners into Sarah Moss’s astonishing seventh novel as effectively as mermaids tempt sailors into the sea. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this memorable tale set at a Scottish holiday camp over the course of a long, rainy day, written in a series of linked vignettes. Each is its own vivid, heartfelt, mysterious, or humorous story that builds with the others toward an unexpected and shocking final drama. Christie’s narration keeps listeners rapt while maintaining rhythm with the action. An outstanding performance. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking Audie-nominated full-cast performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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GIRL A by Abigail Dean, read by Ell Potter

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Lex tries hard to ignore her past, when she was known as Girl A in the aftermath of escaping her abusive parents. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Lex’s story, narrated by Ell Potter with a strong yet subtle performance that helps build the psychological tension in the story. The narrative shifts time frames, and Potter’s characterization helps to distinguish the young Lex from the highly accomplished but flawed adult Lex. Potter’s careful pacing allows listeners to use their imagination without feeling the horror is being overly dramatized. Published by Penguin Audio.

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YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED TO LACEY by Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar, read by Amber Ruffin, Lacey Lamar

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar are sisters and co-narrators on a hilarious, rapid romp through a series of unfortunate events with the racially ignorant. Host Jo Reed and Michele Cobb discuss the comedic tone of the audiobook’s narration, which also simultaneously peels back the layers of how often and how absurdly poorly Lacey is treated. It is simultaneously infuriating and laugh-out-loud funny, thanks to the sisters’ sharp wit. Fun and educational, this is an engaging listen. Published by Hachette Audio.

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JUST AS I AM by Cicely Tyson, Michelle Burford, read by Viola Davis, Cicely Tyson, Robin Miles

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

After a deeply touching foreword by Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis and an introduction from Cicely Tyson herself, narrator Robin Miles picks up the torch and delivers 16 riveting, thought-provoking hours of the life and times of the author. AudioFile’s Michele Cobb tells host Jo Reed how this was one of her favorite celebrity autobiographies that she’s ever listened to, and especially poignant given the recent loss of the actress. This honest account of Tyson’s life also tells of the history and trials of Black women over generations. A must-listen audiobook thanks to the combined brilliance of Robin Miles’s performance and the genteel grace that pervades Tyson’s prose. Published by Harper Audio.

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PALE HORSE, PALE RIDER by Katherine Anne Porter, read by Chelsea Stephens

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this collection of Katherine Anne Porter’s fiction, which brings three of her novellas to audio. Until now, her only fiction on audiobook has been SHIP OF FOOLS. Chelsea Stephens gives this matchless storyteller her due in a precise, subtly nuanced performance. These three novellas, among the best in American literature, live as vibrantly here as they did 80 years ago. Porter’s Pulitzer prize-winning story of the 1918 flu pandemic gives the collection its title, and that somber image links the very different “Old Morality” and “Noon Wine.” Published by Audible, Inc.

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CONCRETE ROSE by Angie Thomas, read by Dion Graham

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Dion Graham shines bright in this YA prequel, set 17 years before Thomas’s bestseller THE HATE U GIVE. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Graham’s skill at bringing this work to life. Listeners get to know Starr’s father, Maverick, at a sudden shift in his life--he’s become a father and is thrust into a whole new role as a caregiver. Graham adds to the emotional connection with the sound of his voice, easily shifting between Maverick’s sometimes frantic internal dialogue and the words he speaks aloud. It is a well-paced audiobook filled with nuances in both writing and performance, and difficult to put down. Published by Harper Audio.

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A PHO LOVE STORY by Loan Le, read by Ryan Do, Vyvy Nguyen

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Ryan Do and Vyvy Nguyen charm listeners in a story of star-crossed lovers and mouthwatering foods, told in fast-paced alternating first-person chapters. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this sweet YA romance about two teens who fall for each other despite their family’s long-running rivalries. Bao Nguyen waits tables in his family’s Vietnamese restaurant, and Do conveys his anxieties about coasting without any real focus in school or out. When he has a chance encounter with Linh Mai, the daughter of his parents’ rivals, sparks fly. Nguyen’s compelling narration of Linh ensures that listeners hear the joys and fears she feels over her secret friendship--and relationship--with Bao. Both narrators convey the thrills of first love and the teens’ loyalty to their families and community. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio

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ANCESTOR APPROVED: INTERTRIBAL STORIES FOR KIDS by Cynthia Leitich Smith [Ed.], read by Kenny Ramos, DeLanna Studi

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Kenny Ramos and DeLanna Studi bring a memorable intertribal powwow to life for listeners. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about this exciting new audiobook for children, featuring short stories from sixteen Indigenous authors. Diverse stories with overlapping narratives showcase the joys of coming together as a community while also highlighting the kids’ many different personalities and experiences. Ramos narrates with all of the nerves and excitement the boys are feeling over joining the festivities, and Studi captures the energy and emotions of the girl protagonists. The collection highlights for listeners that Indigenous people are still here, and that there’s no one story that represents what it’s like to be a Native kid. Published by Harper Audio.

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SHE PERSISTED: CLAUDETTE COLVIN by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Chelsea Clinton [Letter], read by Janina Edwards, Chelsea Clinton [Letter]

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Janina Edwards’s steady and friendly narration suits this children’s biography about the life and activism of Claudette Colvin, who, when she was 15 years old, helped launch the Montgomery bus boycotts by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss how this new audiobook, part of the SHE PERSISTED chapter book series, can inspire young listeners to learn more about historical and current racial injustices. Edwards’s warm narration conveys Colvin’s curiosity and bravery. Published by Listening Library.

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AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS By B.B. Alston, read by Imani Parks

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Imani Parks brings a vibrancy to her narration of this brilliant new fantasy audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss B.B. Alston’s incredible debut, featuring a young Black girl launched into a supernatural adventure. Amari is worried -- her older brother Quinton has been missing for months. When she gets a mysterious package delivered, she suddenly learns that her brother was a superstar agent in the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She’s determined to learn more and begins a hunt for clues as she competes for a spot as a Junior Agent. Kids looking for a fast-paced adventure full of magic will be thrilled with this listen. Published by Harper Audio.

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WHEN YOU TRAP A TIGER by Tae Keller, read by Greta Jung

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Greta Jung captures both the youthful and the adult voices in this Newbery Medal-winning story about family and magic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Jung’s skills at bringing the characters to life. Author Tae Keller’s story captures intergenerational relationships and blends Korean mythology into the story seamlessly. Lily is a quiet and thoughtful girl who wants to disappear at the first sign of conflict, very different from her confident older sister Sam. When the girls and their mother move in with their Halmoni, Lily realizes she’s being followed by a tiger that only she can see--and that tiger may be the key to healing her Halmoni. Published by Listening Library

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In conversation with narrator Nicholas Boulton

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 11:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, Nicholas Boulton joins host Jo Reed to discuss his narrations of classics, historical romances, and more. Nicholas’s narration of Dickens’s DAVID COPPERFIELD is the star of our new podcast, Audiobook Break with AudioFile Magazine, and he and Jo share their thoughts on the character work that goes into voicing a Dickens classic and the challenges of narrating a work written more than a century ago. Listen to hear how Nicholas got his start as an actor and the different techniques he uses to bring characters to life in audiobooks, on stage, and in video games. Once you’ve listened, look for Audiobook Break and start enjoying DAVID COPPERFIELD, with three chapters a week of Nicholas Boulton’s narration thanks to our publishing partner, Naxos AudioBooks.

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THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald, read by Sean Astin

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

This interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece by narrator Sean Astin adds a new layer of pathos and empathy to the classic story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Astin’s interpretation that gives millionaire Jay Gatsby’s story new emotions, and adds new insight into the tragic love story between Daisy Buchanan and Gatsby. Nailing the ending, Astin channels Nick’s longing to comprehend what has happened to him. Published by Dreamscape Audio.

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FEVERS, FEUDS, AND DIAMONDS by Paul Farmer, read by Pete Cross

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Pete Cross does an excellent job narrating this hard-edged audiobook taking on the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but with relevance to today’s COVID-19 pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the crisp voice Cross uses to narrate Harvard epidemiologist Paul Farmer’s true and sad account, one that gives listeners the gnawing sense that in pandemics and epidemics, care should always triumph over control, and that “stuff, staff, and systems” go a long way toward managing the sick. Published by Dreamscape Media.

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RESILIENCE by Harvard Business Review, read by Daniel Henning, Rachel Perry

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Daniel Henning and Rachel Perry share the narrations in a collection of six timely articles from the Harvard Business Review. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed how both narrators deliver transparent and thoughtful performances. From “Mindfulness” to “Find Coaching in Criticism,” the authors deliver well-researched arguments that make listeners take notice and examine their assumptions. The text combines serious suggestions with case histories and insights into famous folk who have been exceptionally resilient. Published by Gildan Media.

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THE NEW MAP by Daniel Yergin, read by Robert Petkoff

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Robert Petkoff is a clear and intelligent reader who suits the global scale and economic scope of Daniel Yergin’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Petkoff’s forthright narrative style balances the complexity of the subject. Yergin, a Pulitzer Prize-winner and an energy consultant, understands current geopolitical stresses surrounding energy production and use. Written with the background of the coronavirus, Yergin’s book details the drastic economic effects of the pandemic. Activists may deride some of his assertions, but this audiobook provides a primer on today’s environmental challenges. Published by Penguin Audio.

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THE JOURNEYS OF TREES by Zach St. George, read by Daniel Henning

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

A surprisingly delightful audiobook takes what might be a dry subject--the migrations of forests and trees--and turns it into a compelling listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Daniel Henning’s animated narration of Zach St. George’s collection of stories, adventures, and scientific studies. Henning gives a nuanced performance as the author tackles the effects global warming is having on the forests, and tells the stories of how naturalists, scientists, and corporations are endeavoring to find solutions. Published by HighBridge Audio.

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ALEXANDER PUSHKIN: EGYPTIAN NIGHTS AND OTHER TALES OF ROMANCE AND IMAGINATION by Alexander Pushkin, read by Stefan Rudnicki

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Stefan Rudnicki splendidly reads this collection of fiction by the Russian author Pushkin. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Pushkin’s best fiction on luck, fate, honor, and grandeur, including stories from “Tales of Belkin,” his novella “The Queen of Spades,” and other stories that provide insights into humans and Russian society. Golden Voice narrator Rudnicki has a resonant voice and an understanding of the flow and nuance of each story, and his deep baritone captures the atmosphere and detail. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame, Dina Gregory [Adapt.], read by a full cast

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Meet Mistress Badger, Mrs. Mole, Miss Ratty, and Lady Toad. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this new production of Kenneth Grahame’s classic featuring a superb all-female cast. Led by Cush Jumbo, the actresses are completely comfortable with the author’s plush prose and elegant descriptions. With original music and on-location sound effects, this friendly tale will leave children captivated. Published by Audible, Inc.

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THE SURVIVORS by Jane Harper, read by Stephen Shanahan

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Stephen Shanahan once again transports listeners down under—this time to Tasmania. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jane Harper’s new Australian thriller, narrated with expertise by Shanahan. Kieran Elliot returns to his hometown to assist his parents’ move. When the body of a young woman is found on the beach, Kieran is drawn back into the memories of the terrible storm 12 years earlier that drowned his brother and friend. Shanahan keeps listeners engaged, and they will appreciate his delivery as Harper’s story depicts the varying ways survivors manage the pain and guilt of loss. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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THE HAPPY PRINCE & OTHER STORIES by Oscar Wilde, read by Simon Jones

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 13:31:43 -0000

With a gentleman’s grace and a finely tuned ear for character voices, narrator Simon Jones does a wonderful job bringing to life this collection of children’s fairy tales by one of the English language’s greatest wits. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Jones’s skill with this collection and beyond, and how he makes the classics so listenable, fresh, and enjoyable—even if you think you might already be familiar with these stories. Although written for children, Wilde’s unique twists on children’s literature are a little edgier, a bit more playful, a trifle wiser, and more fun than your average fairy-tale fare. Published by Alison Larkin Presents.

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LOOKING TO GET LOST by Peter Guralnick, read by Jim Meskimen

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist and author Peter Guralnick offers a personal look at some of the last century’s most influential music artists and writers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the audiobook narrated by Jim Meskimen with a steely timbre and vocal confidence. His intelligent performance of these captivating stories, insights, and reflections is a delight to hear, and he helps us share in the author’s enthusiasm. Guralnick writes about familiar artists and performers along with lesser-known performers, writers, and promoters who were just as critical to music’s ascendence in American culture. It’s an audiobook that musicians and music lovers will savor. Published by Hachette Audio.

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THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE by Charlie Mackesy, read by Charlie Mackesy

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Charlie Mackesy presents a heartwarming performance of an unlikely group of friends as they converse about life, hope, fear, and kindness while exploring the world around them. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audio adaptation of a much loved illustrated work, which features a soundscape with music and wildlife sounds to transform the audiobook into a meditative and therapeutic experience. The short but memorable audiobook will leave listeners of all ages hopeful despite a world filled with uncertainty. It will also leave them hungry for cake. Published by Harper Audio.

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A HOUSE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LAKE by Josh Malerman, read by Taylor Meskimen, Ozzie Rodriguez

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Taylor Meskimen and Ozzie Rodriguez portray two teenagers in what starts out as a sweet summer romance but becomes something much more sinister. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the story of a truly unforgettable first date. James and Amelia go canoeing and discover a fully furnished house underwater. They become obsessed with the house and form an intense bond over the weeks of exploring the mysterious house—but a foreboding presence looms within the house and threatens to drive them apart. The narrators craft memorable characters while also setting a tone and pace that well suits the horror and romance of this audiobook. Published by Random House Audio.

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THE NOM WAH COOKBOOK by Wilson Tang, read by Wilson Tang

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Wilson Tang adds history and personality to New York’s Chinatown with his heartfelt dive into the neighborhood. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this cookbook that also offers a connection to the community. The audiobook is both a collection of lovely stories from the Chinese community in New York and Tang’s personal story of coming to own the Nom Wah restaurant and all those who supported him along the way. The stories are interspersed with chapters that help you tap into Tang’s enthusiasm for the food, walking listeners through the history of rice, noodles, and bao, definitely making you hungry with his engaging narration. Listen while you cook--or daydream of visiting Chinatown. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE WHITE ROSE by Inge Scholl, read by Elizabeth Wiley, Heather Henderson, et al.

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Two accomplished narrators, Elizabeth Wiley and Heather Henderson, recount the chronicle of the White Rose, a cluster of German students who opposed Hitler in 1942 and 1943. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story that focuses on Hans and Sophie Scholl, siblings of the author. Both Wiley and Henderson are articulate and polished as they engage listeners in the hopeless but courageous struggle of this resistance group. Five male narrators provide documentation following the historical account. Listeners hear the exact words, in English, of the leaflets that condemned the young students. Published by Post Hypnotic Press.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF FASCIST LIES by Federico Finchelstein, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this lucid and accessible discussion of the connection between fascism and lying made by Argentine historian Federico Finchelstein. Edoardo Ballerini narrates with a clear and agile voice for a story that is international in scope. The audiobook examines the twentieth century’s infamous fascist leaders and their followers, along with populist and fascist leaders of today. Ballerini demonstrates his ease with a broad range of languages to smoothly pronounce names and terms. His pacing, and the author’s writing, prevent any sense of drag, making this short audiobook rigorous enough to engage politically educated listeners as well as students eager to find expert guidance in developing historical understanding. Published by Post Hypnotic Press.

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THE SEA IN WINTER by Christine Day, read by Kimberly Woods

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Kimberly Woods’s soft voice draws out all of the roiling emotions in Christine Day’s middle-grade novel about recovery, loss, and hope. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook that provides young listeners with comfort and catharsis. Maisie is a 12-year-old Makah and Piscataway girl whose identity has revolved around ballet—but after tearing her ACL, she’s facing an uncertain future. Woods’s youthful voice embodies Maisie, whose anger and anxieties are beginning to overwhelm her despite the loving support of her family. Listeners who are facing loss and a year like none other will find Maisie’s story healing. She’s a role model for learning to express strong emotions and to ask for help. Published by Harper Audio.

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WINTERING by Katherine May, read by Rebecca Lee

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

In this gently told audiobook, author and podcaster Katherine May investigates the effectiveness of rest and refuge in challenging times. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss narrator Rebecca Lee’s pleasing British accent and sympathetic tone, which wonderfully capture May’s absorbing curiosity about the efficacy of slowing down to recover a sense of wellness and balance. May describes lifestyle changes she undertook when she became ill, adaptations by Finns in response to long winter nights, and the patterns of hibernation in dormice and other species. These discoveries will resonate with listeners facing a long winter and the uncertainties of the pandemic. Published by Penguin Audio.

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REMOTE CONTROL by Nnedi Okorafor, read by Adjoa Andoh

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adjoa Andoh captivates listeners with Nnedi Okorafor’s stunning new sci-fi novella set in a near future Ghana. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Andoh’s skills with pacing and tone that keep her perfectly in tune with Okorafor’s compelling story, and she smoothly switches between the accents required to bring the vibrant characters to life. Sankofa is known as the adopted daughter of the Angel of Death. As a young girl, she gains incredible power—and then kills everyone she loves in a tragic accident. Sankofa explores Ghana on foot as she works to gain control over her powers and hunts down the alien artifact stolen from her. Listeners will feel Sankofa’s anger, her longing for community, and her legendary strength. Published by Macmillan Audio.

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CLASS ACT by Jerry Craft, read by a Full Cast

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Listeners will delight in being back with friends from NEW KID, last year’s Newbery Award-winning graphic novel by Jerry Craft. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the full-cast rendition of this sequel to NEW KID, which continues the story of the kids of Riverdale Academy Day School. Jordan Banks is excited but nervous to be heading back to school as an 8th grader, and Jesus Del Orden’s bright voice matches his sweet and observant personality. Drew, compellingly narrated by Nile Bullock, has an easy time connecting with Jordan, but they both continue to feel uneasy about how their wealthy and white classmates—and teachers--treat them both. Subtle sound effects and the full cast’s lively performances help or middle-grade listeners imagine the bustling school hallways. Craft’s witty humor will have listeners laughing out loud, and seeking out the graphic novel companion. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE BLACK FRIEND by Frederick Joseph, read by Miebaca Yohannes

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Miebaka Yohannes narrates with a conversational tone that mirrors Frederick Joseph’s engaging writing. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this YA audiobook that weaves together stories from Joseph’s own life and interviews with others to create an audiobook full of sincere and frank commentary. The audiobook touches on issues such as systemic racism, cultural appropriation, and becoming an “active accomplice.” Throughout, Yohannes amplifies the sincerity in Joseph’s writing—and the humor. Teen listeners will come away with a strengthened resolve to learn about and fight oppression. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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THE DECAMERON PROJECT by The New York Times [Ed.], read by a full cast

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Narrators Robin Miles and Dennis Boutsikaris lead a group of first-rate voice talents in delivering a collection of short stories centered on the COVID-19 pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE’s collection of contemporary North American authors including Margaret Atwood, Victor LaValle, and Dina Nayeri. They have published an astonishing array of fresh, personal and immediate takes on a world taken hostage by a virus. One hopes this is just the beginning of a fresh, breathlessly affecting, and essential literary conversation. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

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THE GOOD ANCESTOR by Roman Krznaric, read by Joe Jameson

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Joe Jameson narrates Roman Krznaric’s impressive work of humanistic philosophy with the seriousness, clarity, and style that it merits. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this edifying excursion into how one can be a “good ancestor.” Packed with thoughtful suggestions and inspiring stories of people like environmental activist Greta Thunberg and case histories in countries from Iceland to China, this audiobook proposes sweeping changes in how people and governments behave. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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SILENCES SO DEEP by John Luther Adams, read by Jim Meskimen

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Jim Meskimen narrates John Luther Adams’s exceptional memoir with conviction and recognition that these words are from a composer of music. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss the way Meskimen narrates with great care and understanding, capturing an immersive text with a deliberate voice and well-paced cadence. Adams’s life and work in the solitude of Alaska bring the listener an appreciation of creativity. This soul-gracing work from an American original delves deeply into the intersections of ecology and art. Published by Blackstone Audio.

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WILDWOODS by Richard Nairn, read by Ruairi Conaghan

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Anyone who appreciates impassioned environmental writing and enjoys the lilting sounds of a fine Irish accent will want to listen to this audiobook. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed his thoughts on both the naturalist Richard Nairn’s writing on the Irish woodlands and Ruairi Conaghan’s storyteller’s delivery. At once a personal story of the author’s own woodland care taking, it is also a meditation on what has happened to Ireland’s woodland, and why. This audiobook’s aim is to help heal the trees. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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PERESTROIKA IN PARIS by Jane Smiley, read by Suzanne Toren

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Suzanne Toren narrates this fable with such subtlety and grace that the listener is effortlessly lulled into the fantastic world of talking and thinking animals. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minkoff discuss the magic of taking a trip to Paris, via Jane Smiley’s new audiobook. Toren’s portrayals of the animas--Perestroika, a thoroughbred racehorse; shorthaired German pointer; raven; and mallards--that inhabit this audiobook are splendid. Perestroika and Paris shine brightly, and this audiobook is a marvelous listening experience and alluring escape. Published by Recorded Books.

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GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey, read by Matthew McConaughey

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

The product of a self-imposed desert exile with his exhaustive collection of personal journals, Matthew McConaughey’s nontraditional memoir offers a series of philosophical reflections of his first 50 years and of life itself. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this tour-de-force one-man show that is much like an experimental film. Dark at moments, the eccentric McConaughey charms and enchants with his Texas twang. At the conclusion, McConaughey reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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MARTIN EDEN by Jack London, read by Edoardo Ballerini

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 10:00:00 -0000

When you blend a master of lyrical language with an outstanding narrator, the result is an unforgettable listening experience. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this semi-autobiographical novel published in 1909, getting renewed attention with an award-winning feature film and Ballerini’s new narration of the audiobook. Martin, a working-class sailor, falls in love with a member of the upper class, Ruth, and he is inspired to educate himself so he may become worthy of her. However, when he does become a famous writer and scholar, he can’t connect with his working-class roots any more. Ruth abandons him, and he falls into despair. Ballerini makes London’s reality our reality, making this classic a choice listening experience.

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A HOUSE IN THE MOUNTAINS by Caroline Moorehead, read by Derek Perkins

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

In a calm, steady voice, Derek Perkins narrates this history of Italian resistance during WWII, with a focus on 1944 and 1945. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Caroline Moorehead’s concluding history in her Resistance Quartet, examining women’s role in the French and Italian Resistance. Perkins slips smoothly into the role of narrator of this lesser-known chapter of WWII, with four women from northwest Italy fighting to overthrow the fascist regime in Turin and the surrounding mountains. Published by Harper Audio.

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THE KINGDOM by Jo Nesbø, Robert Ferguson [Trans.], read by Euan Morton

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

This is an audiobook that grabs the listener’s interest at the start--and keeps getting better from there. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Euan Morton’s brilliant performance of a dark and violent standalone thriller from Jo Nesbø. The mystery focuses on brothers Carl and Roy, who share lifelong secrets and whose lives continue to intertwine in dark, depraved, and unnerving ways. Carl returns to the Norwegian town they grew up in, and there are an alarming number of murders, all of which thrust the town into a fearful frenzy. Nesbø’s complex story is powerful, and his dialogue is superb--couple that with Morton’s precise delivery and his ability to effectively mix inflection, tone, and pace, and the book is an audio page-turner. Published by Random House Audio.

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FAUCI by Michael Specter, read by Michael Specter

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

Journalist Michael Specter’s throaty voice and emotional yet precise delivery perfectly suit his examination of the coronavirus pandemic and the man who is trying to save us from it. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss this biography of Dr. Fauci, based on Specter’s profile for THE NEW YORKER. The gripping audio production blends interviews with Fauci (and Fauci’s wife, herself a bioethicist with the NIH), historical audio clips and news reports, and a fact-filled narrative that captures the listener’s attention as effectively as a suspense novel. This time, however, the terrifying plot points are real. Published by Pushkin Industries.

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AMERICAN SAVIOR by Roland Merullo, read by Dion Graham

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 09:00:00 -0000

What would happen if Jesus’s second coming occurred in America and he believed the best way to initiate a religious rebirth was with a run for President? AudioFile’s Michele Cobb and host Jo Reed discuss Dion Graham’s narration of a satirical story of the Messiah’s run for the White House, written by Roland Merullo. The story centers on Russ Thomas, a TV reporter who, along with a girlfriend, meets a stranger named Jesus who asks them to work on his presidential campaign. If you’re looking for something escapist and different, this one is a wild ride. Published by Post Hypnotic Press.

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WE KEEP THE DEAD CLOSE by Becky Cooper, read by Becky Cooper

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Author and narrator Becky Cooper’s true-crime audiobook chronicles her meticulous and deeply personal investigation of a fifty-year-old murder case. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook where the real-life mystery is solved. In 1969, Harvard graduate student Jane Britton was found violently murdered in her apartment, and her unsolved murder was a Harvard myth, passed along for decades. Cooper felt a growing kinship with the enigmatic Jane and became determined to learn the truth about her murder. Cooper’s well-researched, suspenseful, and empathetic account is true crime at its finest. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of Dust, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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THE UNSPOKEN by Ian K. Smith, read by Amir Abdullah

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Amir Abdullah depicts Chicago’s wealthy enclaves, struggling neighborhoods, and mouthwatering foods while introducing the former-cop-turned-PI Ashe Cayne. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Abdullah’s engaging narration of this missing person mystery from author Ian K. Smith. Ashe Cayne is called on to find Tinsley Gerrigan, a billionaire’s adult daughter. When Ashe finds her, she’s living her own secret life outside of her family’s sphere--and when her boyfriend is found dead, things start to heat up. Abdullah has a rich, expressive voice--his excellent performance makes the text compelling in the audio format. Published by Brilliance Audio.

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I WANT TO BE WHERE THE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE by Rachel Bloom, read by Rachel Bloom

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Actress and comedian Rachel Bloom narrates her own memoir showcasing her life story and her hilarious personality. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about Bloom’s story of growing up as someone who didn’t quite fit in, but discovered her own unique voice through theater. She goes on to become famous as the creator and lead actor in “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” a musical TV show that broke barriers and dealt directly with the subject of mental health. It’s an audiobook that bursts with Bloom’s personality and voice--she even breaks out into song with multipart harmony and music--making it a book you definitely want to experience on audio. Published by Hachette Audio.

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Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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THE COLD MILLIONS by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Marin Ireland, Mike Ortego, and a Full Cast

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Edoardo Ballerini anchors a full-cast performance of a story that takes place in Spokane, WA in the early 1900s. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this Earphones Award-winning story centered on a difficult time in America’s history, and Jess Walters’s memorable characters. Young brothers Rye and Gig take dangerous jobs in the hopes of improving their station in life, but nothing is easy. Events take a turn when they get caught up in the free speech movement and with union organizing. Narrators jump in with spot-on portrayals of activists, detectives, and more, giving backgrounds and ultimate fates of key characters. The outstanding production captures the heart of this affecting snapshot of life during the Progressive Era. Published by Harper Audio.

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Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of Dust, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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THE MISSING DIAMONDS by Annabelle Sami, read by Zenia Starr

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Zenia Starr narrates a lively start to an exciting mystery series starring Zaiba, a determined 11-year-old on the lookout for a case. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Annabelle Sami’s new mystery that is perfect for family listening. The Royal Star Hotel is bustling with guests for Zaiba’s cousin’s Mehndi party, and when clever Zaiba, her younger brother Ali, and her best friend Poppy hear of a VIP guest, they’re determined to discover who it is--little do they know they’re stumbling onto a burglary! Starr’s bright narration and ease with shifting between British, Pakistani, and American accents will keep young listeners hooked as they try to solve the case of the missing diamonds--and dog!--along with Zaiba. Published by Bolinda Audio.

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Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Remembering Kobe Bryant. Hear firsthand stories about what it was like to go toe-to-toe with one of basketball’s greats.

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THE DUKE WHO DIDN'T by Courtney Milan, read by Mary Jane Wells

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Mary Jane Wells narrates a sweetly humorous romance between an incognito duke and a woman determined to lead her father’s sauce business to success. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all that she loved about Milan’s latest historical romance, one that listeners will find discovers both real-world truths and a promise of hope. Jeremy Wentworth loves Chloe Fong, but the awkward fact that she doesn’t know he literally owns her home & entire village makes romance difficult. Wells perfectly captures Chloe’s brisk focus and Jeremy’s charming fecklessness, and Wells shows the deep respect and profound bond between them, especially with regard to their Chinese heritage. There’s much to love about this audiobook. Published by Courtney Milan.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of Dust, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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LIGHT FOR THE WORLD TO SEE by Kwame Alexander, read by Kwame Alexander

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Kwame Alexander delivers three of his poems about the struggles of Black Americans to make a potent combination of elegy, protest, and celebration of Black triumph. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the impressive impact of this brief audiobook, and Alexander’s powerful performance. He begins the audiobook with a stirring foreword recounting a time as a child when he joined his school in protesting police brutality, his fear of police violence, and the power he felt through communal protest and song. Listen to hear his wonderfully performed poems “American Bullet Points,” “Take a Knee,” and “The Undefeated,” set to original music. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Remembering Kobe Bryant. Hear firsthand stories about what it was like to go toe-to-toe with one of basketball’s greats.

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SUPER FAKE LOVE SONG by David Yoon, read by Michael Bow

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Michael Bow expresses the cynical wit of Korean American “super mega nerd” Sunny Dae. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about all there is to love about David Yoon’s newest teen romance. When Sunny gets a new neighbor, the ultracool Cirrus Soh, he invents a fairly impressive fake rockstar persona that results in stealing his older brother’s clothes, music, and swagger. Sunny ropes his best friends into the act, and they form a band, discovering the thrill of making music together. Bow is able to reflect Sunny’s cynicism, anxiety, growing confidence as he manages to keep the wool over Cirrus’s eyes--but only to a point. Bow reveals Sunny’s true self as he ultimately questions his relationships with Cirrus and his family, and finds his own identity. Published by Listening Library.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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MEDIOCRE by Ijeoma Oluo, read by Ijeoma Oluo

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Ijeoma Oluo, the bestselling author of SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE, is back, this time taking a closer look at the legacy of white male supremacy in America. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about Oluo’s well-researched examination of how America’s systems have been built to prioritize white and male culture above all else--and that these systems can and must be rebuilt. Her narration is confident and clear, drawing listeners in with appropriate indignation and outrage, and listeners will be moved, disturbed, and inspired by her words. Published by Hachette Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of Dust, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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UNCLE TOM'S CHILDREN by Richard Wright, read by Adam Lazarre-White

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Adam Lazarre-White finds the distinct voice of each character in this seminal collection, written in 1938 by Richard Wright. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Wright’s collection that exposed the strange and coded universe of Jim Crow racism to the entire world with a hard-hitting essay and five remarkable and devastating short stories. Realistic, visceral, violent, and honest--these are stories that mattered and still matter today, and Lazarre-White reads them that way. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of DUST, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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CUYAHOGA by Pete Beatty, read by Feodor Chin

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Feodor Chin reads this satirical novel with drama and wit. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Pete Beatty’s audiobook set in 19th-century Ohio and how the outsized characters make this tall tale an heir to the Western lore of Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan. The listener is treated to all the hijinks--from a boat race to a bridge burning and a prodigious brawl. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Remembering Kobe Bryant. Hear firsthand stories about what it was like to go toe-to-toe with one of basketball’s greats.

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MY ÁNTONIA by Willa Cather, read by Robert G. Slade

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 14:32:35 -0000

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff revisit Willa Cather’s classic, narrated by Robert G. Slade. He delivers the voices of Bohemians, Norwegians, and Russian immigrants with subtlety and captures the cadences of young and old--and most of all, inhabits the coming of age of the storyteller Jim Burden. Ántonia is one of American literature’s most striking heroines--strong, independent, spirited, and motherly, she survives and prevails. Published by Naxos AudioBooks.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Frankenstein, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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AMERICAN CHEESE by Joe Berkowitz, read by Charlie Thurston

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Narrator Charlie Thurston embraces the fast pace of this entertaining cheese-focused romp. AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff tells host Jo Reed about how Thurston’s cadence, rhythm, and ability to mimic make Joe Berkowitz’s informative audiobook special. It’s at once a cheese-centered travelogue, an appreciation of all things cheese, and a celebration of those who make cheese. And it’s also a journey into the nether world of cheese competitions. It’s a listen for food lovers, cheese makers, and anyone who wants to discover more about the American artisan cheese world. Published by Harper Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of DUST, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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OAK FLAT by Lauren Redniss, read by Lauren Redniss and a Full Cast

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0000

Author Lauren Redniss and a full cast of narrators transport the listener to the high, dry country of southeast Arizona’s Apache San Carlos Reservation. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of sacred lands threatened by development of their vast copper deposits. Lauren Redniss delivers the narrative that introduces listeners to the people and the issues, and this work of art celebrates the Apache culture and its close ties to the land. Published by Random House Audio.

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Support comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of Remembering Kobe Bryant. Hear firsthand stories about what it was like to go toe-to-toe with one of basketball’s greats.

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In Conversation with narrator Frankie Corzo

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:00:00 -0000

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, narrator Frankie Corzo joins host Jo Reed to talk about her audiobooks, including MEXICAN GOTHIC. Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s eerie horror novel is one of AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of the year. This audiobook will not only creep you out, but it also captures the lush Mexican countryside. Frankie shares her story of how she got her start in acting and in audio, her thoughts on the immersive MEXICAN GOTHIC, and the joys of bringing complicated and multidimensional Latinx stories to life for listeners of all ages, including Meg Medina’s MERCI SUAREZ CHANGES GEARS.

For the full list of AudioFile’s 2020 Best Audiobooks, visit audiofilemagazine.com

Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com

Today's episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of DUST, the first in the new Heirs of Neverland series, a dark and dramatic take on the classic story of Peter Pan.

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Interview with Robin Miles: 2020 Best Audiobooks

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 10:00:00 -0000

Narrator Robin Miles joins AudioFile’s Michele Cobb to talk about THE CITY WE BECAME, N.K. Jemisin’s remarkable and fantastical celebration of New York City’s spirit. THE CITY WE BECAME is one of AudioFile’s Best Sci-fi, Fantasy & Horror audiobooks of the year, and it’s an entirely engaging listening experience. Robin tells Michele about what has stayed with her from narrating this audiobook and the special preparation she took to make the many New York voices come to life. Published by Hachette Audio.

Best Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Audiobooks:

THE CITY WE BECAME by N.K. Jemisin, read by Robin Miles

THE HAUNTING OF H.G. WELLS by Robert Masello, read by Steve West

THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien, read by Andy Serkis

MEXICAN GOTHIC by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, read by Frankie Corzo

THE SANDMAN by Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs [Adapt.], read by Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, Samantha Morton, Bebe Neuwirth, Andy Serkis, Michael Sheen, and a Full Cast

THE SINNER by J.R. Ward, read by Jim Frangione

For the full list of AudioFile’s 2020 Best Audiobooks, visit audiofilemagazine.com

Support for our podcast comes from Oasis Audio, publisher of FRANKENSTEIN, a breathtaking full-cast original audiobook performance of the stage adaptation by A.S. Peterson.

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