Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

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. 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. Vikas Adam photo by Ilya S Savenok for Getty Images. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Guy Lockard photo by Miguel Herrera. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Thérèse Plummer photo courtesy of the narrator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Daniel Henning photo by Stephen Mosher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Adenrele Ojo photo by Michael Roud Photography. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Grover Gardner photo courtesy of the narrator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Photo of Dion Graham by Max Flatow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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. Photo of Helen Laser by John DeAmara. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. https://www.dreamscapepublishing.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices