Roger Clark gives a thrilling performance of Tana French’s newest novel set in a ferociously insular Irish village. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this sequel to THE SEARCHER, continuing the story of Cal Hooper, a retired Chicago police detective in a town that makes its own law. Clark’s Irish dialogue is so rich and musical it’s addictive, but his American voice for Hooper is flawless as well, and his pacing, attention, and sympathy do splendid justice to this riveting...

An inspiring original story gets a five-star narration from Lynnette R. Freeman. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss how Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s Civil War-era novel shines with Freeman’s narration. Sanite and her daughter, Ady, run from the brutality of John du Marche’s slave labor camp—also known as a plantation. Separated when Sanite is recaptured, Ady endures hardship alone in the woods until she’s eventually befriended by a free woman who runs a secret organization called...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Edoardo Ballerini’s narration of Amor Towles’s newest short story collection. By turns nuanced and dramatic, Golden Voice Ballerini uses his full range of techniques always in service of the author’s fine prose. His smart pace and rich tone work particularly well for the noir novella set in late 1930s Hollywood. Ballerini shines in the opening work, “New York: The Line,” about an average Russian, named Pushkin, who has a gift for helping...

Dorje Swallow’s performance of Helen Oyeyemi’s metafiction centers this whirligig of a novel in which story begets story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss how Swallow’s assured narration—in particular, his ability to do voices and accents and adapt his tone to whatever the scene—makes this audiobook marvelous to listen to. Hero Tojosoa ostensibly comes to Prague to join her friend, Sophie, for a weekend. When Dorothea arrives as well, the plot thickens, spatters, and all...

Aaron Goodson performs Vinson Cunningham’s coming-of-age novel in a conversational manner. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Goodson’s pleasing narrative style. His pensive tone works for the narrator and protagonist, David Hammons, the well-read but adrift young man who finds himself working as a fundraising assistant in the 2008 presidential election for the unnamed African American senator from Illinois. It’s a finely crafted story that includes smart and nuanced riffs on...

Carlotta Brentan narrates this near-future dystopian novel set in a time of ecological disaster in the mostly underwater community of Island City. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Téa Obreht’s newest novel. Brentan portrays the cast of characters smartly by subtly shifting tone, cadence, and timbre. The once stately Morningside building is now home to “repopulated” folks who are part of a government program. Mysteries shroud this imaginative work. Read the full review of the...

This audiobook reveals that Tommy Orange is among the most insightful novelists writing today and a poet of pain. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss this immersive novel set in Oakland that makes for a powerful listening experience. Among the segmented novel’s stellar performances, Charley Flyte’s reading of Victoria Bear Shield’s dramatic monologue to her unborn daughter is a tour de force—a haunting performance with an expressive tone and intimate voice. Alma Cuervo portrays...

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed welcomes author Cynthia Leitich Smith and narrator Shaun Taylor-Corbett for a lively conversation about making memorable audiobooks for children and young adults. Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee citizen) is a highly acclaimed author for young readers and curator for Heartdrum, a Native American-focused imprint from HarperCollins. Shaun Taylor-Corbett (Blackfeet) is a frequent narrator of audiobooks from Heartdrum, including Cynthia’s...

Shayna Small delivers a variety of accents as a group of New Yorkers gather on their rooftop during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, telling stories to pass the time. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Small’s skills as she narrates a wide range of characters, emotions, and stories. Her narration shines in this reinterpretation of another plague novel, Boccaccio’s DECAMERON, written in the fourteenth century as bubonic plague raced across Europe. The Author’s Guild brought...

Narrator A.J. Cook utilizes her considerable acting skills in portraying divorce lawyer, single mother, and suicide hotline volunteer Felicia, whose life was forever changed by her sister’s suicide. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this short but impactful audio thriller. Actress Tess Albertson matches Cook in talent as she portrays Chloe, a teenager who calls Felicia’s helpline. Cook masterfully portrays Felicia’s desperation to save Chloe from suicide and avoid potential...

Grace Hawthorne presents the chapters of her intelligent guide with appealing assertiveness while a Stanford colleague delivers brief segments with equal authority and charm. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this audiobook on turning your ideas into reality. After convincing listeners that they can train their brains to think expansively, Hawthorne dives into the explicit steps one can take to get projects started and to keep the momentum going when inevitable frustrations...

Lucy Sante narrates her intimate and poignant memoir of her transition, delivering vignettes from her life with authenticity. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Lucy’s story. Lucy realized early in her life that she was female, but it was not until her sixties in 2021 that she transitioned and shared her news with her friends. Her lifelong success as a writer comes through in her near-poetic storytelling without being saccharine. Listeners will hear her comfort in her identity,...

Pop culture drag star RuPaul’s candid warmth is an invitation to accompany him as he discovers fame, love, and his unvarnished self. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this origin story from the mother of all drag queens. His soft narration opens with sensory details that evoke the power of memory, and his gentle voice allows listeners to enter early scenes of his life. Listeners learn of his family, discovering his “secret girl” at the age of 12, and his struggles for...

Joniece Abbott-Pratt performs this multigenerational novel set over several decades in the American South. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this debut novel from poet Phillip B. Williams. In the 1830s, a mysterious woman named Saint frees enslaved people from plantations and brings them to a town they call Ours, where they find a safe haven from the rest of the world. But when Saint tightens her control of the townspeople, they begin to wonder what it means to be a free...

Lyz Lenz narrates her memoir about the end of her marriage and the start of her new life as an “ex-wife.” Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this audiobook that alternates between Lenz’s own story of divorce and freedom, and her research on women experiencing divorce. While Lenz had been told that the end of her marriage would be the end of her family, she soon discovered that leaving her unhappy marriage gave her more fulfillment and love than she ever had before. Lenz’s...

January LaVoy and Michael Crouch perform Katherine Arden’s historical novel with a supernatural twist. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss one of the must-listen audiobooks of the season. LaVoy delivers the perspective of Laura, a nurse who has recently returned from a WWI battlefield to her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Crouch narrates as Laura’s brother, Freddie, a young soldier who has gone missing in Belgium. LaVoy conveys all of Laura's anguish when she receives word...

Tania De Rozario performs her essay collection, which revolves around her experience growing up as a fat mixed-race queer girl in Singapore. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss how De Rozario’s audiobook is a gem of queer literature. De Rozario narrates each of her essays with emotional depth and understanding, giving grace to her past self while simultaneously acknowledging the growth she has experienced over time. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s...

January LaVoy performs this epic story of three teenagers who are brought back from the dead just long enough to compete in a mysterious game to see who gets to continue to live. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this debut novel by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kelly Link, who is better known for her short story collections. Here, Laura, Daniel, and Mo find themselves back in Lovesend, Massachusetts, one year after they died. LaVoy captures whimsy and darkness in equal...

AudioFile’s celebrating 1500 episodes of our Behind the Mic podcast. Today host Jo Reed talks with Alan Minskoff, a longtime AudioFile reviewer who has excellent insights into audiobooks. Alan tells Jo about how he fits audiobooks into his busy weeks as he commutes to his work at the College of Idaho. He loves to feature audiobooks on food, the environment, and history and the occasional literary fiction on Behind the Mic. AudioFile’s podcast honors the work and dedication to the craft of...

This week we’re honoring the 1500th episodes of Behind the Mic podcast with spotlights on each of our contributors. Today host Jo Reed talks with Kendra Winchester, who reviews for AudioFile and shares many insights into fascinating audiobooks here on the podcast and as a contributing editor for Book Riot. Kendra tells Jo about her audiobook listening, her favorite genres to enjoy, and how she picks her features for the podcast. She often highlights new literary fiction, essays, and memoirs,...

We’re celebrating AudioFile’s Behind the Mic podcast all week with highlights of our contributors. Listen in to hear host Jo Reed in discussion with AudioFile’s Assistant Editor, Emily Connelly. She tells Jo about when she started listening to audiobooks, her work since she started at AudioFile, and how her love of audiobooks helps her on the podcast and in her role at the library. She’s always happy to talk about what she’s listening to, whether it’s a new favorite family listen or a...

AudioFile is celebrating our 1500th episode of Behind the Mic with highlights of each of our contributors. Today host Jo Reed is talking with AudioFile’s Publisher, Michele Cobb. Listen in to hear all about Michele’s work in the world of audiobooks and podcasts, what she loves about the Behind the Mic podcast, and what she looks for in her next featured audiobook. When Michele’s on the podcast, you can bet there will be a juicy celebrity memoir or buzzy new audiobook to discuss! AudioFile’s...

Happy 1500 episodes to AudioFile’s Behind the Mic Podcast! We’re celebrating this milestone all week long by highlighting each of our podcast contributors. Today host Jo is talking with AudioFile’s Editor and founder, Robin Whitten. They talk about all the fun and work that goes into recording 1500 episodes of Behind the Mic, their favorite episodes, and their shared love for mystery audiobooks. AudioFile’s podcast honors the work and dedication to the craft of making excellent audiobooks...

Soneela Nanknai’s talents are in full force in this monstrous and magical fantasy series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Roseanne A Brown’s thrilling sequel to SERWA BOATENG’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRE HUNTING. Serwa has discovered a shocking secret—she’s an obayifo, a vampire witch, just like those she’s spent her life training to fight. Nankani’s dynamic voice and boundless energy match the action and Serwa’s roiling emotions as she goes into hiding to train with her obayifo...

André Santana and Meg Sylvan narrate this friends-to-lovers romance with compassion and full-hearted emotion. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this story of two lonely people finding friendship and love where they least expect it. Santana’s thoughtful narration gives us insights into former firefighter Jesse’s anxiety and warm heart. Lulu’s a history professor living in her parents’ house, and Sylvan’s voice expresses both Lulu’s infectious enthusiasm and self doubt. When...