Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Joe Ide weaves another fast-paced, character-driven L.A. detective story, masterfully narrated by Sullivan Jones. Isaiah Quintabe (IQ), struggling PI, risks his life to investigate a missing person case that exposes him to a vicious paramilitary gang. Published by Hachette Audio. Read the full review of WRECKED at audiofilemagazine.com. For more free audiobook recommendations, sign up for AudioFil...

A companion program to the PBS series “The Great American Read.” Robin Miles narrates broadcast journalist Meredith Viera’s invitation to fellow book lovers to join her in discovering and rediscovering the 100 books discussed in the show. Listeners come away with reasons to reread or listen to favorites and create lists of new books to try. Published by Blackstone Audio. Read the full review of TH...

Donna Andrews continues her series of cozy mysteries with avian themes with this holiday entry. Amateur sleuth Meg Langslow deals with the discovery of a live baby in a nativity creche. Narrator Bernadette Dunne has narrated all 24 audiobooks in the series. Listeners will find themselves laughing and cheering as they’re drawn into the action of this humorous audiobook. Published by Dreamscape Audi...

A full-cast experience transforms a year’s worth of comics into a “movie for your mind.” Richard Rohan narrates the scenes, while a full cast of 47 actors makes the characters come alive—along with an outrageous number of sound effects including explosions, sirens, and screams. The story is as good on audio as it was in the comics—a near impossible feat. Published by GraphicAudio. Read the full re...

Exuding attitude with every syllable, narrator Guy Lockard concludes Jason Reynolds’s Track series that will resonate with young listeners. Lu is the fast, flashy “fine-o albino” co-captain of the Defenders track team, but lately he’s been stumbling over hurdles both on and off the track. Dialogue plus delivery make the story feel very real. Published by Simon & Schuster Audio. Read the full revie...

Science Fiction and fantasy author N.K. Jemisin (BROKEN EARTH TRILOGY) offers her first collection of short fiction with stories that share themes such as feminism, otherness, relationships, motherhood, power, fertility, and dreams. Seven stellar narrators each drill down to the core of the story, developing believable accents and highlighting the characters’ personalities. Published by Hachette A...

In a postmodern Gothic tale, Sarah Perry (THE ESSEX SERPENT) takes listeners on a haunting journey to discover the existence of Melmoth, a dark-robed figure of ancient tales. Helen, a modern-day translator living in Prague, uncovers the dark history of the elusive monster, the “witness” who watches humanity’s darkest deeds. Jan Cramer wraps listeners in the creepy, unsettling cloak of this fantasy...

Lumberjanes are just the thing for family listening. Based on a series of comic books, the audiobook featuring Amanda Leigh Cobb’s performance pulls out the stops for adventure, goofy songs, and unique perspective on life with the kids at camp. Her narration gives the scouts lively, memorable vocal personalities. And adults will adore the wordplay—who will forget Miss Annabella Panache? THE GOOD E...

Today’s guest is Heath Miller, who narrates the zany sci-fi novel SPACE OPERA, written by Catherynne Valente and published by HighBridge Audio. SPACE OPERA earned a spot on our Best of 2018 Science Fiction & Fantasy list. Sentient races compete for glory in a universe-wide music contest, and it’s both scathing social commentary and a hilarious send-up of music competitions. Heath shines as the sar...

Our last Best of 2018 list features favorites in Science Fiction & Fantasy. Listen as Michele and Robin discuss these winners, with bonus sound samples of WHO IS THE BLACK PANTHER?, performed by a full cast, and THE POPPY WAR, narrated by Emily Woo Zeller. And don’t miss tomorrow’s interview with Heath Miller about his narration of SPACE OPERA. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy...

Today we’re sharing AudioFile Magazine’s list of the 2018 Best Memoir Audiobooks. Listen as we discuss all the winners, including sound clips from THE COST OF LIVING by Deborah Levy and MAKE TROUBLE by Cecile Richards. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Memoir Audiobooks of 2018 BECOMING by Michelle Obama, read by Michelle Obama, published by Random House Audio EDUCATED by Tara Westover, read by Julia Whel...

Our guest on today’s special narrator episode is Brittany Pressley, the talented narrator behind one of AudioFile’s 2018 Best Audiobooks, THE SOMETIMES SISTERS by Carolyn Brown, published by Brilliance Audio. Brittany has narrated several of Brown’s titles, and the author and narrator team have an obvious talent for creating memorable romance audiobooks. Listen as Brittany tells us about narrating...

Today we’re sharing the Best Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Listen to clips from BESOTTED WITH THE VISCOUNT and AS YOU WISH, two of our five picks. And be sure to come back tomorrow to hear our interview with narrator Brittany Pressley about Carolyn Brown’s THE SOMETIMES SISTERS. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Romance Audiobooks of 2018 AS YOU WISH by Jude Deveraux, read by Susan Bennett, published by Rec...

Fiona Hardingham voices the final audiobook in Maryrose Wood’s The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series with exuberance, charm, and impeccable timing. As our guest on today’s podcast, she discusses the special preparation she put into this audiobook, which features an array of accents and voices. And for more on The Incorrigible Children, check out our special bonus interview with author M...

Today we are sharing the Best Children’s and Family Audiobooks of 2018. Listen in as we talk about our picks and share clips from GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS and YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING, JILLY P! And be sure to tune in tomorrow when we share our interview with narrator Fiona Hardingham discussing the final book of Maryrose Wood’s Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series. AudioFile Mag...

We’re featuring AudioFile Magazine’s list of the Best Mystery & Suspense Audiobooks of 2018. Listen in as we discuss these compelling audiobooks and share clips from KINGDOM OF THE BLIND and THE DEATH OF MRS. WESTAWAY. Many of these Best of 2018 picks have been featured in detail in earlier podcast episodes—dive back into our archive to discover more about them. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Mystery &...

Our guest today is January LaVoy, narrator of an impeccably researched biography of the philanthropist and unsung hero married to Alexander Hamilton. Tilar J. Mazzeo’s ELIZA HAMILTON: The Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton, published by Simon & Schuster Audio, is a richly detailed audiobook concentrating on Eliza’s life after Alexander’s death. January’s skilled narrati...

We’re celebrating AudioFile Magazine’s picks for the 2018 Best Biography and History Audiobooks. Join us as we discuss these intriguing true life stories and share clips from BARRACOON and RFK. And don’t miss tomorrow’s episode featuring an interview with narrator January LaVoy about her narration of Tilar J. Mazzeo’s ELIZA HAMILTON. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Biography and History Audiobooks of 20...

Our guest today is Sunil Malhotra, narrator of I HAVE LOST MY WAY by Gayle Forman, one of our picks for the Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018. Sunil narrates this story along with Michael Crouch and Nicole Lewis. Three strangers collide in Central Park, and their stories are told in three very different perspectives by those three narrators. Hear from Sunil about what it was like recording this...

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winners and share clips from HOPE NATION and CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE. Tune in tomorrow for more on YA winner I HAVE LOST MY WAY from narrator Sunil Malhotra. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Young Adult Audiobooks of 2018 CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE by Tomi Adeyemi, read by Bahni...

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the 2018 Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winners and share a sound clip from one of the best of the year, Ijeoma Oluo’s SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE, narrated by Bahni Turpin. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Nonfiction & Culture Audiobooks of 2018 BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY BURN AGAIN by Ben Fountain, read by Ron Butler,...

Our guest today is the talented Michael Crouch, who was recognized for his narration on 3 of our Best Audiobooks of 2018. Today he talks about his narration of one of our fiction picks, OLIVER LOVING by Stefan Merrill Block, published by Macmillan Audio. OLIVER LOVING is a brilliant, propulsive audiobook about a life-changing moment in a family, the traumas and secrets that test us, and the storie...

Today we share AudioFile Magazine’s list of the 2018 Best Fiction Audiobooks. Listen in as we discuss these audiobook winner, and share clips from CIRCE and WARLIGHT. Tune in tomorrow for more on OLIVER LOVING from narrator Michael Crouch. AudioFile Magazine’s Best Fiction Audiobooks of 2018 CLOCK DANCE by Anne Tyler, read by Kimberly Farr, published by Random House Audio OLIVER LOVING by Stefan M...

This fantasy debut combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance in an original world with an historical setting. Cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Dr. Miles Singer is a veteran from the deadly world war, and he’s a magical healer hiding away. He went to war to escape his destiny and...

The author’s charming guide to cooking is based on the four essential elements — salt, fat, acid, and heat. The audiobook talks you through the science and reasoning behind why good food tastes so good, and guides you through making your own at home. Perfect Thanksgiving listening—learn all about why brining your turkey makes it taste so good! It’s an essential companion to Samin’s new Netflix sho...