Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine
1,567 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 123 ratingsFind your next great audiobook on our podcast, Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine. Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile Editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. All in 6 minutes or less. It’s short, sweet, and just what your ears need. Want more? Listen to our bonus episodes featuring conversations with the best voices in the audiobook industry.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
THE MATCH by Harlan Coben, read by Steven Weber
August 08, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesHarlan 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 ...
A PRAYER FOR THE CROWN-SHY by Becky Chambers, read by Emmett Grosland
August 05, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesEmmett 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 cha...
AUGUST KITKO AND THE MECHAS FROM SPACE by Alex White, read by Hayden Bishop
August 04, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesHayden 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. Bi...
AN IMMENSE WORLD by Ed Yong, read by Ed Yong
August 03, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesScience 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...
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING by Julia Whelan, read by Julia Whelan
August 02, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesAuthor 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 ma...
WHAT SOULS ARE MADE OF by Tasha Suri, read by Alex Williams, Becca Hirani
August 01, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesAlex 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 H...
EMBRACE FEARLESSLY THE BURNING WORLD by Barry Lopez, Rebecca Solnit [Intro.], read by James Naughton, Rebecca Solnit [Intro.]
July 29, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesJames 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 A...
SINGING LESSONS FOR THE STYLISH CANARY by Laura Stanfill, read by Graham Halstead
July 28, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesGraham 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....
THE ANGEL OF ROME by Jess Walter, read by Edoardo Ballerini, Julia Whelan
July 27, 2022 08:00 - 7 minutesHost 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 veraci...
ROUGE STREET by Shuang Xuetao, Jeremy Tiang [Trans.], read by Brian Nishii
July 26, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesBrian 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 w...
NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZ by Morgan Talty, read by Darrell Dennis
July 25, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesDarrell 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,...
POET WARRIOR by Joy Harjo, read by Joy Harjo
July 22, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesJoy 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 forgiven...
In Conversation with Adjoa Andoh, Golden Voice Narrator
July 22, 2022 09:00 - 38 minutesIn 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...
THE KEY TO DECEIT by Ashley Weaver, read by Alison Larkin
July 21, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesA 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 cam...
BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA by Katie Cotugno, read by Julia Whelan
July 20, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesJulia 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. Wh...
MAGIC, LIES, AND DEADLY PIES by Misha Popp, read by Tanya Eby
July 19, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesTanya 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 engagin...
A SPY'S LIFE by Henry Porter, read by Matthew Lloyd Davies
July 18, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesMatthew 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 ...
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS by Minnie Driver, read by Minnie Driver
July 15, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesEnglish 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 ...
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
July 14, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesExcellent 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 ...
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
July 13, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesLucy 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 capti...
THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub, read by Marin Ireland
July 12, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesMarin 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 th...
COUNTERFEIT by Kirstin Chen, read by Catherine Ho
July 11, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesNarrator 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 ...
THE 6:20 MAN by David Baldacci, read by Zachary Webber, Christine Lakin, Mela Lee
July 08, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesListeners 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 nar...
THE WEEK by David M. Henkin, read by Pete Cross
July 07, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesDavid 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...
ALL THE TEARS IN CHINA by Sulari Gentill, read by Rupert Degas
July 06, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesRupert 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 ...
GOLD SPUN by Brandie June, read by Kathleen McInerney
July 05, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesKathleen 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...
THE HOTEL NANTUCKET by Elin Hilderbrand, read by Erin Bennett
July 04, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesErin 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 es...
THE DAWNHOUNDS by Sascha Stronach, read by Anna Coddington
July 01, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNew 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 H...
SIREN QUEEN by Nghi Vo, read by Natalie Naudus
June 30, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNatalie 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 ...
THE HACIENDA by Isabel Cañas, read by Victoria Villarreal, Lee Osorio
June 29, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNarrators 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 disc...
KAMILA KNOWS BEST by Farah Heron, read by Soneela Nankani
June 28, 2022 04:00 - 6 minutesThe 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)...
YERBA BUENA by Nina LaCour, read by Julia Whelan
June 27, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesGolden 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 gorge...
LOVE MARRIAGE by Monica Ali, read by Ayesha Dharker
June 24, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesAyesha 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, wh...
WHAT THE ERMINE SAW by Eden Collinsworth, read by Cassandra Campbell
June 23, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesThe 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 fu...
MANHATTAN PHOENIX by Daniel S. Levy, read by Mike Lenz
June 22, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesMike 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...
ADRIATIC by Robert D. Kaplan, read by Arthur Morey
June 21, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesGolden 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, K...
THE CHIMPANZEE WHISPERER by Stany Nyandwi, David Blissett, Dr. Jane Goodall [Fore.], read by Dion Graham, Callie Beaulieu [Fore.]
June 20, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesGolden 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 en...
In conversation with Rupert Degas, Golden Voice Narrator
June 17, 2022 10:00 - 45 minutesIn 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 ce...
MISS CHLOE by A.J. Verdelle, read by Bahni Turpin
June 17, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesAudioFile 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 inti...
FORBIDDEN CITY by Vanessa Hua, read by Catherine Ho
June 16, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNarrator 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 Cha...
THE YOUNGER WIFE by Sally Hepworth, read by Zoe Carides, Jessica Douglas-Henry, Barrie Kreinik, Caroline Lee
June 15, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesHost 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, mani...
THE CHERRY ROBBERS by Sarai Walker, read by January LaVoy
June 14, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesJanuary 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 fort...
SHADOWS OF BERLIN by David R. Gillham, read by Suzanne Toren
June 13, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesSuzanne 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...
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt, read by Marin Ireland, Michael Urie
June 10, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesHost 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 enjoya...
AT LEAST YOU HAVE YOUR HEALTH by Madi Sinha, read by Soneela Nankani
June 09, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesHost 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 exclusi...
EVEN WHEN YOUR VOICE SHAKES by Ruby Yayra Goka, read by Adjoa Andoh
June 08, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesGolden 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...
WE WERE DREAMERS by Simu Liu, read by Simu Liu
June 07, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesSimu 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...
GROUNDSKEEPING by Lee Cole, read by Michael Crouch
June 06, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesLove 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 pro...
On Juliet Stevenson, Golden Voice Narrator
June 03, 2022 09:00 - 8 minutesHost 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 h...
On Rupert Degas, Golden Voice Narrator
June 02, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesHost 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:...