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.
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Episodes
AudioFile Favorites: Talking with Robert Bathurst
December 26, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutesAudioFile 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 au...
AudioFile Favorites: TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY
December 23, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesAudioFile’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 loo...
AudioFile Favorites: SUCH A FUN AGE
December 22, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesThis 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 websit...
AudioFile Favorites: ZABAR’S
December 21, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesAudioFile 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. Re...
AudioFile Favorites: AN IMMENSE WORLD
December 20, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesWe’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 Aud...
AudioFile Favorites: LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI
December 19, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesAudioFile 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...
MARIE KONDO'S KURASHI AT HOME by Marie Kondo, read by Traci Kato-Kiriyama
December 16, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesHost 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 liste...
MAGNOLIA FLOWER by Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi [Adapt.], read by Sheryl Lee Ralph
December 15, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesSheryl 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 communit...
A WORLD OF CURIOSITIES by Louise Penny, read by Robert Bathurst
December 14, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesRobert 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 ...
Interview with Julia Whelan: 2022 Best Romance Audiobooks
December 13, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutesAuthor 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 st...
Interview with January LaVoy: 2022 Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Audiobooks
December 12, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutesGolden 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 audiob...
Interview with Brian Nishii: 2022 Best Children & Family Listening
December 09, 2022 10:00 - 17 minutesNarrator 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, ...
Interview with Deepti Gupta: 2022 Best Young Adult Audiobooks
December 08, 2022 10:00 - 13 minutesNarrator 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 wil...
Interview with Soneela Nankani: 2022 Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks
December 07, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesGolden 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 a...
Interview with Robin Miles: 2022 Best History & Biography Audiobooks
December 06, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutesGolden 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 H...
Interview with Lake Bell: 2022 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks
December 05, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutesActor, 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 audiofil...
Interview with Joniece Abbott-Pratt: 2022 Best Fiction Audiobooks
December 02, 2022 10:00 - 14 minutesNarrator 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 audiofilemagazin...
AudioFile’s 2022 Best Audiobooks!
December 01, 2022 10:00 - 15 minutesAudioFile’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...
HAVE I TOLD YOU THIS ALREADY? by Lauren Graham, read by Lauren Graham
November 30, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesIt’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 web...
FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry, read by Matthew Perry
November 29, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesNarrating 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...
THE LIGHT WE CARRY by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama
November 28, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesMichelle 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 w...
NEWSROOM CONFIDENTIAL by Margaret Sullivan, read by Lisa Flanagan, Margaret Sullivan [Intro.]
November 25, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesLisa 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 listeni...
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
November 24, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesBob 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. P...
THE SKI JUMPERS by Peter Geye, read by Robert Fass
November 23, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesAs 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 crea...
40 by Alan Heathcock, read by Julia Atwood
November 22, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesThe 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 websi...
THE PASSENGER by Cormac McCarthy, read by MacLeod Andrews, Julia Whelan
November 21, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesAudioFile 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. Find ...
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON by Ryan Lee Wong, read by Scott Takeda
November 18, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesScott 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 ...
THE FURROWS by Namwali Serpell, read by Kristen Ariza, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Dion Graham
November 17, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesThree 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 unce...
THE HAUNTING OF HAJJI HOTAK AND OTHER STORIES by Jamil Jan Kochai, read by Peter Ganim, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Fajer Al-Kaisi
November 16, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesPeter 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. Pub...
STAY TRUE by Hua Hsu, read by Hua Hsu
November 15, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesHua 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. ...
SHRINES OF GAIETY by Kate Atkinson, read by Jason Watkins
November 14, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesJason 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 AudioF...
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
November 11, 2022 10:00 - 8 minutesNeil 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, h...
ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Saeed Jones, read by Saeed Jones
November 10, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesSaeed 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...
NONA THE NINTH by Tamsyn Muir, read by Moira Quirk
November 09, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesMoira 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, ...
EVEN THOUGH I KNEW THE END by C.L. Polk, read by January LaVoy
November 08, 2022 10:00 - 7 minutesGolden 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...
A RESTLESS TRUTH by Freya Marske, read by Aysha Kala
November 07, 2022 10:00 - 6 minutesNarrator 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...
LUNGFISH by Meghan Gilliss, read by Devon Sorvari
November 04, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesDevon 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 ...
INSIDE VOICE by Lake Bell, read by Lake Bell et al.
November 03, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesActor, 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. With...
MAKING A SCENE by Constance Wu, read by Constance Wu
November 02, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesConstance 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 strug...
A GIRLHOOD by Carolyn Hays, read by Erin Bennett
November 01, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNarrator 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 li...
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PANIC by Kevin Wilson, read by Ginnifer Goodwin, Kevin Wilson [Note]
October 31, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNarrator 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 ...
THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by Maggie O'Farrell, read by Genevieve Gaunt, Maggie O'Farrell [Afterword]
October 28, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesThree 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, ...
DEATH IN DISGUISE by Caroline Graham, read by John Hopkins
October 27, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesInspector 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, whe...
THE STOLEN YEAR by Anya Kamenetz, read by Anya Kamenetz
October 26, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesAnya 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, an...
BACK TO THE GARDEN by Laurie R. King, read by Vivienne Leheny
October 25, 2022 09:00 - 6 minutesVivienne 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 Audio...
HELL AND BACK by Craig Johnson, read by George Guidall
October 24, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesGolden 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 ...
MAPS OF OUR SPECTACULAR BODIES by Maddie Mortimer, read by Tamsin Greig, Lydia Wilson
October 21, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesLydia 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...
THE WOMEN COULD FLY by Megan Giddings, read by Angel Pean
October 20, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesAngel 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 skillfull...
SWEET, SOFT, PLENTY RHYTHM by Laura Warrell, read by Nicole Lewis
October 19, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNicole 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,...
YEAR OF THE TIGER by Alice Wong, read by Nancy Wu
October 18, 2022 09:00 - 7 minutesNancy 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 g...