Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine

Mara Wilson offers an admirable performance in Armistead Maupin’s tenth book in the Tales of the City series. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this lively murder mystery that revives Maupin’s series well known from its PBS and Netflix adaptations. Mona Ramsey hosts American tourists Rhonda and Ernie Blaylock at her grand country home in the English countryside. Midsummer festivities approach, and dangerous secrets are discovered. Wilson builds snappy dialogue skillfully, and listeners will enjoy spending time at the manor. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s 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

In this memoir of the unexpected death of her son, Fi, Alexandra Fuller pulls off quite a feat by simultaneously filling her voice with both life and loss. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Fuller’s impressive narration, which has warmth and bite at the appropriate moments. Fuller grew up in Zimbabwe, and her rich, warm voice contains appealing traces of that accent. Fi died at 21 despite having no real health problems, and grief and incomprehension are clear in every word Fuller utters.  Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Recorded Books.  Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s 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

Golden Voice Nicholas Boulton delights in Isabel Allende’s short story of passionate lovers. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss listening to this audiobook about a runaway bride who wakes up in Spain’s Guggenheim Museum wearing her wedding dress, in the arms of a stranger. The story is told from the perspective of a detective who is determined to charge the lovers with a crime following their torrid night of lovemaking in the museum. Boulton speaks brusquely as Detective Larramendi separately interviews the couple, who both offer the same explanation. Despite his crusty nature, Detective Larramendi cannot help being captivated by the magically implausible story that the lovers tell. Neither will listeners.  Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Brilliance Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s 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

Eileen Stevens’s openhearted performance will warm listeners to the core and inspire a sense of true goodness in the world. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Monica Wood’s newest audiobook, which tells a story of second chances. Violet Powell is determined to make the most of her time now that she’s out of prison and building a new life in Portland, Maine. She vows she won’t be the sum of her worst act—killing a woman while driving drunk. She finds two unexpected allies in Harriet, the volunteer book club moderator at the prison, and Frank, the elderly widower of the woman Violet killed. As chapters alternate between Violet, Harriet, and Frank, Stevens adopts subtle shifts in tone and emphasis that reveal the core values and uncertainties of each character. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Harper Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s 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

Dominic Hoffman joins host Jo Reed to tell listeners about his career in acting and in audiobook narration and being named a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Dominic tells Jo about how his experience on stage informs his audiobook narration, and the unique challenges of serving both the author’s intent and the audience’s listening experience. They discuss his narrations of James McBride’s audiobooks, including THE HEAVEN AND EARTH GROCERY STORE, which he says was “as fun as it was challenging,” with its many accents and its nuanced story. Dominic explains his initial reluctance to narrate JAMES, by Percival Everett, and his appreciation of the new perspective that the book offered. Read reviews of Dominic Hoffman’s audiobooks at our website. Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. 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

Today AudioFile Magazine is celebrating Robert Petkoff as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Listen to host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten as they discuss Robert’s history in audiobook narration, his particular talents as a narrator, and Robert’s performances that they love to recommend. Essential listening: BAD CITY by Paul Pringle, read by Robert Petkoff BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande, read by Robert Petkoff FIRE ON THE LEVEE by Jared Fishman, Joseph Hooper, read by Robert Petkoff LESS IS LOST by Andrew Sean Greer, read by Robert Petkoff THE TIMES by Adam Nagourney, read by Robert Petkoff Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Robert Petkoff, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. 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

We’re celebrating Golden Voice narrators all this week, and today we’re thrilled to honor Kate Reading as a 2024 Golden Voice. Listen to Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discussing Kate’s many talents in the narrator booth, what favorite audiobooks of hers they recommend exploring, and what makes her a Golden Voice. Essential listening: A MEMORY OF LIGHT by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, read by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading DEATH AND THE MAIDEN by Ariel Dorfman, read by John Kapelos, John Mahoney, Carolyn Seymour, Kristoffer Tabori THE ART OF THEFT by Sherry Thomas, read by Kate Reading THE SOUVENIR MUSEUM by Elizabeth McCracken, read by Kate Reading RHYTHM OF WAR by Brandon Sanderson, read by Michael Kramer, Kate Reading Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Kate Reading, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. 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

AudioFile Magazine is proud to announce Dominic Hoffman as a 2024 Golden Voice narrator. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss Dominic’s many talents, including his skill with bringing characters and stories to life for audiobook listeners. Listen to hear more about what makes Dominic a Golden Voice, his many accolades, and more. Essential listening: DEACON KING KONG by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman JAMES by Percival Everett, read by Dominic Hoffman I CAN'T BREATHE by Matt Taibbi, read by Dominic Hoffman THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE by James McBride, read by Dominic Hoffman THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley, read by Dominic Hoffman Visit AudioFile’s website for more on Dominic Hoffman, and for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. 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

AudioFile Magazine’s Golden Voice narrators are the stars of the audiobook universe. Today host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten are announcing the new Golden Voice honorees for 2024: Dominic Hoffman, Kate Reading, and Robert Petkoff. AudioFile Magazine has bestowed the Golden Voice honor on 50 audiobook narrators; it’s an accolade that honors those who have made significant contributions to the audiobook art form. We’re celebrating the iconic skills these narrators bring to their performances, and listeners can be assured that when they pick up an audiobook narrated by any of the Golden Voices, they will have an exceptional listening experience. Robin and Jo will be honoring each of the new Golden Voices in turn this week, and we’ll have full interviews with each of the new Golden Voices this month, starting with Dominic Hoffman’s on June 7 — be sure to follow our podcast so you don’t miss it! Visit AudioFile’s website for a full list of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. 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

Dominic Hoffman narrates this reimagining of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, but this time Jim tells his own story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Kendra Winchester discuss this inventive story. When Jim learns he’s going to be sold to someone downriver, he flees, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Hoffman’s performance captures the varying tone of Jim’s dialogue, highlighting the shifts in his vocabulary and rhythm. With its subtlety and attention to detail, Hoffman’s narration reinforces Jim’s character and narrative arcs as Jim takes back his agency in life. Read the full review of the audiobook on AudioFile’s website. Published by Random House Audio. Discover thousands of audiobook reviews and more at AudioFile’s website. Support for AudioFile’s Sound Reviews comes from Hachette Audio, and the audiobook edition of RELENTLESS by Luis A Miranda Jr, featuring a foreword read by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda. To find out more about this, and any other Hachette Audio productions, please visit www.hachetteaudio.com, or @HachetteAudio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices