Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Mike Chamberlain’s believable tone and unhurried pace make him a great choice to narrate this audiobook subtitled “Climate and the Science of Denial.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story examining facts versus falsehoods, and the climate-change deniers. These are the folks who still pit themselves against the scientists revealing unyielding truths of melting glaciers, warming temperatures, and catastrophic weather events. Chamberlain’s careful narration of Lipsky’s punchy prose makes this enjoyable, informative listening despite the dire nature of the topic. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HighBridge Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kathleen Kim’s magnificent performance brings out the complexity and drama in Jimin Han’s outstanding saga. Kim is the compelling voice of Jeonga Cha, a strong-willed woman who is haunted by the decisions she made based on pride and honor. Generations later, as a ghost, she must rectify the consequences of her actions. The wide range of emotions in Kim’s evocative narration deftly reveals Jeonga Cha’s evolving voices as woman, daughter, mother, sister, and grandmother across the intersections of political and cultural divides during her lifetime. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three narrators portray the viewpoints of uncommon women leading full, magical lives in Elizabeth Acevedo’s first novel for adults. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of Flor, an older Dominican American woman who decides to throw herself a living wake. One of four sisters, Flor dreams about when people are going to die. Author Acevedo narrates the majority of the novel; her poignant turns of phrase and delivery in English and Spanish provide a musical listening experience. Sixta Morel portrays the four sisters’ passions and gifts, while Danyeli Rodriguez del Orbe portrays the youthful Yadi. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Erin Tripp, a Lingít actor and performer, narrates this historical novel based on author Michel Jean’s Innu ancestry. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Tripp evokes the snowy landscape and beautiful sections of nature writing. Almanda Siméon, the daughter of Irish immigrants, falls in love with Thomas, an Innu man, and is welcomed in his Pekuakami Innu community. Tripp perfectly pastures Almanda’s horror and fury as she experiences the loss of her community’s Indigenous lands to the lumber industry and the removal of her children and grandchildren to residential schools. Tripp’s skillful narration makes for an immersive listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MacLeod Andrews performs David Joy’s riveting novel set in the mountains of western North Carolina in 2019. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s contributor Kendra Winchester discuss this literary crime novel about Toya, a young Black artist from Atlanta who returns to her grandmother’s Appalachian town to learn more about her family’s history. When she discovers a Confederate statue in town, she calls for its removal. At the same time, a white deputy discovers a list of high-ranking members of the Klan. Andrews captures the rising tension as these two characters become hopelessly intertwined. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meryl Streep’s captivating performance of Ann Patchett’s new novel transforms this fine book into a must-listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this Earphones Award-winning audiobook about the Nelson family isolating together during the start of the Covid pandemic. Lara entertains her daughters with memories of working in summer stock theater at nearby Tom Lake and dating an actor who became a famous movie star. It’s a beautiful warm hug of an audiobook about a mother and the relationship she has with her children. Streep narrates with breathtaking sensitivity, savoring along with us the novel’s many lessons and satisfactions. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julia Whelan’s performance is so consistently gripping that listeners may attempt to finish this entire audiobook in one sitting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this bestselling story of a decades-old murder at a New Hampshire boarding school. A successful podcaster, Bodie teaches a course on the subject at her alma mater, and one of her students turns to that murder for inspiration on her school project. As the research progresses, Bodie is forced to confront complicated relationships with those involved—and becomes obsessed as they work to find the real culprit. JD Jackson shines in a pivotal cameo that is essential to the story and a bonus for audiobook fans. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for this podcast comes from #1 New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben’s explosively fast thriller Shelter is now an Amazon Prime Original Series. Listen to the series that started it all at Audible.com/Shelter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tanis Parenteau leaps right into narrating this chilling debut horror novel from Jessica Johns. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss a story of dreams come to life — but these dreams are full of crows and sinister winter woods. Parenteau portrays all of Mackenzie’s anxiety, quickening her pace as her nightmares turn more sinister. She lives a solitary life far from her Cree family’s home, and still feels isolated when she returns home. The suspense mounts as Mackenzie and her family share secrets, racing to discover the deadly source of the nightmares. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Grann’s enthralling audiobook is performed wonderfully by Dion Graham, a master narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this compelling tale of a shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. Dion Graham commands the listener’s attention with this true story of HMS WAGER, an English warship that sailed in the 1740s. The excitement and peril of the high seas are captured through the dramatic accounts of remarkable perseverance. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amina Koroma and Jonathan Andrew Hume bring liveliness and charm to this utterly delightful YA debut from Talia Hibbert, a beloved British romance author. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audiobook full of humor and heart. Koroma delivers all of the snark and wit of Celine, a stellar student and TikTok star who is ready to take on the world—starting with a wilderness adventure that could win the attention of her hero. Unfortunately, her ex-best-friend-now-rival Brad is coming along, and is being way too cute. Listeners are certain to laugh, cheer, and root for the two to find their way back into each other’s hearts. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss the start of a fun and unusual new mystery series from Jesse Q. Sutanto, narrated with brisk humor by Eunice Wong. The lonely existence of 60-year-old Chinese immigrant Vera Wong takes a wild turn when she discovers a dead body in her rundown San Francisco tea shop. Vera is a woman of strong opinions and decisive actions, and Wong’s crisp, accented portrayal reveals all of Vera’s amusing, endearing, and exasperating traits. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Holden’s return to narrate the third installment in Ann Cleeves’s Matthew Venn series is a treat. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a story full of twists and turns that will keep listeners engaged. Cleeves’s descriptive prowess transports listeners to the bleak and formidable cliffs of Greystone, Devon. When adventurer Jem Roscoe is found dead in a dinghy after a raging storm, Detective Matthew Venn and his team are called in to investigate. Holden masterfully conveys their inner struggles, rounding out the humanity of the investigators. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shiromi Arserio is the ideal choice for this touching novel about two 14-year-old girls who attend a boarding school in York, England, in 1805. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Arserio’s compassionate portrayal of these unforgettable characters. Arserio vividly conveys the emotional complexities of Eliza Raine, a lonely, wealthy orphan from India, and Anne Lister, an audacious, highly intelligent tomboy. The social outcasts quickly become inseparable, and their friendship blossoms into desire and poignant first love. Then Anne flees the school, leaving Raine behind. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suzanne Toren’s rich, assured performance transports listeners in this absorbing discussion of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s World War II contributions. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Eleanor expanded the role of First Lady during wartime by becoming actively involved in social issues and traveling widely. She visited troops stationed in the Pacific theater, providing practical support and bolstering troop’s morale. An archived radio broadcast of Eleanor’s speech to New Zealanders concludes the production. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Claire Foy gives listeners a remarkable performance of Kate Morton’s sweeping new novel about family, love, and secrets. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a mysterious story about one family’s secrets. On Christmas Day, 1959, a bizarre tragedy strikes the Turner family of South Australia. In 2018, Jess Turner, a London-based journalist, is summoned back to Sydney, and she stumbles across the decades-old mystery that leaves her wrestling with the stunning truth of what has been done in the name of love and family. Foy varies her intonation, pace, and pitch to create indelible audio portraits of diverse characters who range from a grocer to a grand dame. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Bolinda Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annabelle Tudor completely inhabits the English characters at the center of this engrossing tale of gender, class, and World War I. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss a story of Peggy and Maude, bookbinders at Oxford University Press. Peggy’s intellectual curiosity is discernible in her voice; she chafes at the reminder that her job is to bind the books, not read them. Maude, who is neurodivergent, has a knack for parroting the core words of every conversation. Tudor rounds her vowels for upper-class female students, and adopts a light accent for the Belgian WWI refugees. A fabulous performance highlighting a wonderful story. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This heartfelt audiobook about four friends who are seeking revenge is a must-listen. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Leesa Cross-Smith’s novel set in a small town. Mela Lee narrates as Kasey, who has returned home and is haunted by the truth of her mother’s death. She reunites with three friends, Ada, Rosemarie, and Caroline. Caroline has recently married the town’s richest bachelor, Trey, but when his abusive behavior sends Caroline to the hospital, the other girls plan his murder, frustrated with a justice system that protects its privileged citizens while leaving women to suffer. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kristen Atherton’s excellent use of accents, inflection, and tempo brings Alison Goodman’s characters to life in a lively feminist Regency adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss a story of single 42-year-old twin sisters, Augusta and Julia, who are way ahead of their time. They may be considered “on the shelf” by some, but others know them as determined deliverers of women and girls in calamitous situations. Atherton’s animated performance captures all the aristocratic and dastardly characters in three interlocking stories that will delight fans of Regency fare. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill Winternitz perfectly captures the strain of maintaining facades in her narration of four women forced to confront unearthed truths. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ashley Audrain’s suspenseful thriller about the bitter secrets, despair, and rage hidden away in a quiet neighborhood. From the first crack in the veneer at a neighborhood barbecue to a tragic incident befalling one of their children, each woman’s world starts to unravel and affect the other women in the group. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This full-cast audio adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s classic comic strip about the messy lives of a group of queer women in the 1980s is absolutely flawless. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this hilarious, heartfelt, and utterly compelling adaptation of a lesbian classic. Jane Lynch grounds the production as the narrator, and Carrie Brownstein gives a knockout performance as Mo, a self-righteous but well-intentioned lesbian who is prone to panic attacks. Sound effects, music, and a delightful full cast make for a vibrant and engaging listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brittany Pressley captures a young woman’s fear as her world closes in on her. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Megan Abbott’s mystery about a family vacation gone wrong. Newly married Jacy and Jed are traveling to the wilds of Michigan to meet Jed’s parents. But soon things start to feel off, especially when Jed’s father, Dr. Ash, takes an uneasy interest in Jacy’s pregnancy. Pressley provides the perfect mix of mounting terror and rage and creates a progressively suffocating environment that makes for a diabolical character and a very satisfying listening experience. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Christine Baranski and New York Times theater Jesse Green join host Jo Reed in a special bonus edition of Behind the Mic. The two joined forces to create the audiobook of SHY: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers, written by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Green. Listen to our interview to hear from Jesse Green about how this lively and memorable book was written, and how Christine Baranski’s talented narration brings this unusual memoir to life. Mary Rodgers was the daughter of the composer Richard Rodgers, and was a musical theater composer herself, as well as an author, philanthropist, and mother of six children. She was a funny, honest, and self-effacing woman who knew everyone in American musical theater and worked with quite a few. She wrote her memoir in collaboration with Jesse Green, who completed it after her death in 2014. As much a portrait of a smart and talented woman trying to carve out a creative life for herself as it is an insider’s look at musical theater in the mid-twentieth century, the book is a tour-de-force. The audiobook is performed by the award-winning actor Christine Baranski in what amounts to a terrific one-woman show, while Jesse Green himself narrates the footnotes. Read our review of SHY on AudioFile’s website. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Anvil Rich gives an engaging narration of a heartwarming middle grade audiobook that takes place over the course of a single day. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Christine Day’s newest quiet, thoughtful audiobook exploring identity and belonging. Rich captures Wesley’s nervous excitement for this year’s Indigenous People’s Day. She’s publishing a poem on the holiday in her middle school paper, and she’s going to ask her cute gaming club crush out to a school dance. When nothing goes as planned, she feels heartbroken and uncertain about her place in the world. Rich’s dynamic and youthful voice captures all of the ups and downs as Wesley finds loving support from her friends, her intergenerational family, and her community at an intertribal powwow. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by HarperAudio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bahni Turpin’s performance raises the emotional stakes in this claustrophobic space thriller. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss the Golden Voice narrator’s skilled narration of an intergalactic space voyage gone horribly wrong. Jacklyn Albright finds herself suddenly the acting leader of the CALYPSO, a ship voyaging back to Earth from a failed attempt at colonizing a distant planet. They’ve lost contact with the other ships in the fleet and are facing a mutiny from the hungry passengers—and they discover bloodthirsty aliens living in the walls. Turpin’s vocal pacing sets this performance apart, giving listeners both the heart-pounding speed and eerie calm that bring the thrills to life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by OrangeSky Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mara Wilson expertly narrates a queer horror novel about an evangelical religious community in Montana and the gay conversion therapy camp at its heart. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this new audiobook from internet sensation Chuck Tingle, read with skill by Mara Wilson. Rose Darling is twenty, and while she never went to Camp Damascus, she knows people who have—they just won't talk about it. The novel takes a sharp turn into the surreal in the first chapter when Rose vomits up mayflies at the dinner table and her parents pass it off as a fluke. Wilson narrates with emotional depth, conveying all of Rose’s intelligence, inquisitiveness, and fear as she’s hunted by otherworldly beings. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dominic Hoffman fully inhabits the characters in McBride’s fresh, vital, and beautifully written historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this latest audiobook from the National Book Award-winning author. The story takes place in the 1930s in Chicken Hill, a predominantly Black and Jewish neighborhood in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Hoffman varies his accent and intonation for the large cast of characters who impact each other’s lives, from Chona, the owner of the titular grocery store to Dodo, a 12-year-old Deaf boy. Hoffman gives a mesmerizing performance as McBride explores themes of racism and antisemitism, the immigrant experience and the human experience, and the consequences of acts of evil and kindness. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Penguin Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gisela Chípe’s skilled narration captivates in this immersive novel set in ‘90s Mexico City. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this thrilling mystery with a supernatural bent. Montserrat and Tristán have been friends since childhood, and now both are struggling in their film careers. When they meet a cult favorite horror director, Abel Urueta, he convinces them to help complete his decades-old film that he says was cursed by the death of the Nazi occultist behind it. Chípe conveys all of their mounting dread and fear as they’re drawn into a world of sinister magic and dangerous cultists and discover the true powers of silver nitrate film. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Stillwell narrates an overdue biographical history like a reporter pursuing the story of a lifetime. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this history of the 1975 Senate Committee that unearthed the multiple crimes and misdeeds of our nation’s secret agencies, ranging from assassination plots to wire taps to illegal intelligence gathering. Ultimately the Committee, chaired by Idaho Senator Frank Church, uncovered CIA partnerships with the Mafia, FBI extra-legal pursuits, and NSA domestic spying operations. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alix Dunmore’s lilting voice and English accent capture the musicality of Deborah Levy’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this fascinating portrait of a woman in crisis. Elsa, a virtuoso pianist, is at a standstill. She dyes her hair blue and sets about inventing a new persona. The pandemic is taking place as the plot moves around Europe. Elsa’s quest is aided by a doppelganger who appears sometimes as a person, sometimes as a figment of Elsa’s imagination. Levy expertly creates scenes packed with meaning as Elsa comes to understand her provenance, passion, and place in the world. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Macmillan Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Genevieve Gaunt performs this compelling audiobook of a near future pandemic. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this story of a survivor, Neffy, who is portrayed with a vulnerable and youthful tone. Gaunt’s crisp English accent works well with this post-apocalyptic London setting. Neffy and four other 20-something survivors are living in a “biopharm” facility and coming to terms with the ghastly reality outside. An engaging and immersive listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christine Baranski brings intelligence, energy, and impeccable timing to her narration of this tell-all memoir by Mary Rodgers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Baranski captures the many Marys—the unliked daughter, the composer, the mother of six, the longtime companion of Sondheim and collaborator with Leonard Bernstein. Known for writing the musical ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, hundreds of songs, and the kids’ book FREAKY FRIDAY, Rodgers is also witty, self-effacing, and a fine storyteller. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Spiegel & Grau by OrangeSky Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from A Soul of Ash and Blood. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. Learn more at Audible.com/ASoulOfAshAndBlood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sophie Amoss does a neat turn narrating Lorrie Moore’s enigmatic novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Amoss’s subtle and compelling narration style. She smoothly switches between characters and from the diction of the 1870s to the world of 2016. Straightforwardly portraying two disturbed women—one an unlikely murderess, the other suicidal—she is convincing. This is fiction packed with ideas and creative sleight of hand. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eddie Ndopu performs his memoir, bringing his story to life with his thoughtful narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how Ndopu tells his story of growing up, and his thrilling acceptance with a full scholarship at Oxford University. But when he tries discussing his needs as someone with spinal muscular atrophy, the university informs him their scholarship won’t cover his caregiver’s salary. Ndopu’s narration captures his intense discouragement and despair, but listeners will also hear the steel enter his voice as he pushes back, insists on his rights as a disabled person in university and beyond, and advocates for equitable accommodations. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A talented ensemble performs Julia Franks's historical novel. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this story of an unintended pregnancy in 1950s North Carolina. Edie Carrigan’s parents tell her she must keep her pregnancy a secret and send her to a house for unwed mothers where she’s expected to give the child up for adoption once she gives birth. Molly Secours beautifully captures Edie’s emotional devastation as she fights to keep her baby. Laura Horowitz, Rachel L. Jacobs, and Colin Martin brilliantly narrate the other viewpoint characters, who are each tied to Edie’s life in ways that are slowly revealed throughout the story. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Audible, Inc. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barrie Kealoha delivers an absorbing performance of Anne Berest’s stunning autobiographical novel exploring her family’s tragic yet resilient heritage. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how the story begins when Anne’s mother receives a decades-old postcard in the mail, in 2003. The postcard lists four relatives who died in Auschwitz. Fifteen years later, Anne decides to investigate the Jewish family’s fate, including their flight from Russia. Kealoha delivers the powerful result with admirable clarity and excellent pacing that fully draw in the listener. She gives a riveting performance, imbuing the narration with emotion. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Europa Editions. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Woo Zeller narrates the story of the life of infamous Chinese pirate queen Shek Yeung. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this historical fiction novel based on the fierce pirate. When Shek Yeung sees her husband slaughtered during a raid, she immediately sets into place plans to keep her unsteady pirate fleet together amid many challenges. She fights to protect her growing fleet and family, no matter the cost. Zeller gives an energetic performance and strong character work that make this story all the more worthy of the listener’s attention. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cece Bell’s graphic memoir for kids is brilliantly adapted for audio with a full cast and thoughtful production. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss Cece’s story, which starts in her early childhood when she lost her hearing after an illness and continues through to middle school. Cece starts school with special earphones attached to a box around her neck, connected to a mic worn by her teachers—not always correctly—and she imagines herself a superhero able to hear her teachers as they travel around the school. She begins to navigate making friends and also deals with bullying. The audiobook editing imitates what Cece hears through her hearing aids, illustrating the different kinds of sounds she experiences. With vibrant performances from the cast and the careful production, EL DEAFO makes for an engaging audiobook. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imogen Church performs Ruth Ware’s suspenseful mystery with conviction. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this thriller where Church once again makes each character distinct and memorable. Jack and her husband, Gabe, work in the security field. After a long night working on a test gone awry, Jack returns home to find Gabe dead, and she soon discovers she’s the leading suspect in the case and flees. This is a thriller worth listening to. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four narrators coordinate their performances perfectly in Peter Swanson’s cleverly crafted audiobook about a flawed private detective who becomes involved in the machinations of a woman from his past. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss listening to this sequel to THE KIND WORTH KILLING, where Keith Szarabajka gives voice to detective Henry Kimball. Helen Laser delivers the backstory of his manipulative client, while Micky Shiloah is convincing as her gullible husband. Kathleen Early reprises her role from the earlier novel, returning as the disturbed Lily. Pay close attention, as nothing is what it really seems. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s second memoir, following HEY, KIDDO, recounts his experiences as a teen counselor at a summer camp for terminally ill children. At the camp, Jarrett uses his gift for drawing to document and access his feelings for fellow counselors, and most importantly, the campers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this powerful adaptation of Krosoczka’s graphic memoir, with the coordination of more than 50 narrators, carefully selected music, and sound effects that enhance the action. Watch Krosoczka’s video for more on how he and the publisher adapted his graphic book to audio. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Scholastic Audiobooks. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A series of introspective monologues is brought vividly to life in six stellar performances. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten talk about this collection of reflective first-person monologues by soldiers, slave owners, and free and enslaved women. The setting is Louisiana during the late days of the Civil War, and the narrators portray all manner of humanity, delivering deeply felt first-person stories that neatly intertwine. Author James Lee Burke delivers his introduction and epilogue. A reminder of the disastrous results that once arose in a divided nation. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dion Graham’s brisk pacing works well to invite listeners into the energetic life and career of jazz icon Ramsey Lewis. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this delightful memoir for jazz lovers and newcomers alike. Graham has once again captured the essence of a great jazz musician in this audiobook, and his deftly modulated performance celebrates the musician’s remarkable story and long career. This audiobook defines an important American musician who made major contributions to twentieth-century jazz. His memoir was completed just before his death in 2022. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Blackstone Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin R. Free joins host Jo Reed for a conversation about his impressive audiobook work, his acting career, and being named a 2023 Golden Voice narrator. Kevin is a multiple Earphones Award winner for a wide range of audiobooks, from children’s stories to literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and fantastic science fiction. There are few narrators who can match his versatility and perceptive performances across genres. Kevin has had an extraordinary career, both in the recording booth and in theater as an actor, a director, a playwright, and an artistic director. He’s recorded 450 audiobooks, including Martha Wells’s wildly popular Murderbot Diaries series, Brandon Taylor’s insightful works, and many memorable children’s audiobooks. Listen in to Kevin and Jo’s lively conversation to learn more about how he brings joy into the recording booth, the thought and care he puts into creating voices for every character, and more. Read reviews of many of Kevin R. Free’s audiobooks on AudioFile’s website. Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jess Nahikian’s voice sounds assured, comfortable, and clear, but their real achievement is how well their performance connects with Rainesford Stauffer’s thoughtful perspectives and desire to help young people. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook all about ambition, hustle, and the burden of the idea that we all need to get ahead. The audiobook is a calm but persistent plea for people to resist societal messages around hustle, and that we should never be satisfied with our accomplishments but always pushing for more. With the help of Nahikian’s comfortable speaking style and support of the author’s intentions, this audiobook is one that will make listeners take a hard look at overly ambitious lifestyles that don’t allow room for imagination, joy, or healthy relationships. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Finkel narrates the opening of his audiobook, a memorable portrait of Stéphane Breitwieser, the sly European thief who pilfered nearly $2 billion in art objects. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s smooth, enticing narration of the rest of the audiobook, making it a true-crime listen that is easy to devour. Breitwieser’s story is dramatic, highly cinematic, but ultimately sad. It is a compelling and shocking listen, and Ballerini’s skill and artistry with his narration heightens the mood. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Meskimen presents Patrick deWitt’s tribute to reading, books, and librarians. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this story of a lonely retired librarian, Bob, whose life is changed when he rescues a lost woman, returns her to her care home, and surprises himself by volunteering there. Meskimen’s unhurried pace is appropriate as Bob reveals his life story, from running away at age 11 to the recent past, when he was betrayed by his wife and best friend. Meskimen flawlessly portrays Bob with heartbreak and humor. A lovely listen with a fitting narration from a talented voice. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Dern and Diane Ladd’s genre-bending collection of searingly intimate real-life conversations exemplifies everything that is exciting about audio as a medium. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Ladd and Dern’s conversational memoir. When Ladd is diagnosed with lung scarring, she’s given six months to live and told exercise is her only chance for improvement. Her daughter, Dern, proposes daily walks, with the commitment to leave nothing between them unsaid. Listening to these raw conversations would feel voyeuristic if the emotional themes the women cover weren’t so universal. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Hachette Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laurie Anderson, the late Lou Reed’s wife and sometimes collaborator, invites listeners to learn about Reed’s passion for tai chi and how it saved his life. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook full of interviews and short pieces describing Reed. Ten years after his passing, Anderson and her three co-editors have created a reflective, meditative collage of an artist and his private passion. The audiobook is a realistic, often endearing, portrait of Reed, with interviewees including Iggy Pop, the magician Penn Jillette, and director Darren Aronofsky sharing their thoughts on Reed’s relationship with tai chi. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Kyle Lukoff’s DIFFERENT KINDS OF FRUIT, which Emily highly recommends as family listening. Narrator Cassandra Morris’s bright and youthful tone fits Annabelle, a sixth-grader growing up sheltered in a small Washington town. Lukoff’s excellent writing and Morris’s lively narration work seamlessly to bring Annabelle and the well-rounded characters to life. When Annabelle starts the school year and meets Bailey, her new nonbinary classmate, her world opens wider and she gains new perspectives. She comes to better understand herself, her family, and her community thanks to Bailey’s friendship. A heartwarming listen. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Listening Library. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AudioFile is revisiting favorite audiobooks all this week that make for excellent summer listening. In today’s episode, host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss a striking collection of interconnected short stories by debut author Morgan Talty. Darrell Dennis narrates with calculated restraint, empathy, and a sure sense of the author’s voice. Dennis voices central character David, who is Penobscot, with a convincing tone and careful cadence. The stories teeter from funny to sad, capturing the dark corners of life on the reservation, creating an isolated and insular world for listeners. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books. Find more audiobook recommendations at audiofilemagazine.com Support for AudioFile's Behind the Mic comes from BOLINDA. A world-leading audiobook and technology company, Bolinda publishes the greatest books you’ll ever hear and inspire people to live their best lives through the power of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices