Horror, Held Close

About this episode

Jo Reed and Alex Richey discuss three horror audiobooks that emphasize atmosphere and psychological depth.

Host Jo Reed is joined by contributor Alex Richey to explore three horror audiobooks that favor atmosphere and interiority over jump scares. We begin with The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann, where Florence Howard’s finely tuned vocal shifts capture Anne Boleyn’s intellect and fury in an intimate, reflective alternate history. We then turn to The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, with Nesta Cooper delivering a grounded, emotionally precise performance that deepens the novel’s psychological unease. The episode closes with Mother Is Watching by Karma Brown, as Karissa Vacker navigates a tightly controlled world of surveillance and a deeply unsettling mystery, moving seamlessly among characters as the tension gradually tightens. Audiobooks Discussed: The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann, read by Florence Howard (Random House Audio) The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, read by Nesta Cooper (Macmillan Audio) Mother Is Watching by Karma Brown, read by Karissa Vacker (Penguin Audio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Jo Reed

Guest: Alex Richey

Topics covered

• horror audiobooks
• atmosphere
• interiority
• psychological unease
• surveillance
• mystery

Keywords

• horror
• audiobooks
• atmosphere
• psychological
• mystery
• surveillance
• interiority

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Beheading Game, The Body, Mother Is Watching

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