
Thrillers With Teeth
From Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews by Kirkus Audiobook Reviews
February 26, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 1906
About this episode
The episode discusses new thrillers and the impact of narration on storytelling.
Host Jo Reed and contributor Leslie Fine kick off their discussion of rule-breaking new thrillers with Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, performed by Cia Court, in which a competitive housing market becomes the breeding ground for obsession. They turn to The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex, narrated by Edward Rowe and Meg Salter, a tense story of revenge that widens into an exploration of class, trauma, and the moments that define a life. Finally, they consider Girl Dinner by Olivie E. Blake, a sorority-set satire with sharp dialogue and darker implications, told through the alternating performances of Stephanie Nameth-Parker and Rita Amparita. Across all three titles, the conversation underscores how the right voices can amplify a thriller’s tension, humor, and emotional stakes. Audiobooks Discussed: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, read by Cia Court (Macmillan Audio) The Sunshine Man by Emma Stonex, read by Edward Rowe and Meg Salter (Penguin Audio) Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, read by Stephanie Nemeth-Parker and Rita Amparita (Macmillan Audio) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Jo Reed
Guest: Leslie Fine
Topics covered
- thrillers
- audiobooks
- narration
- obsession
- revenge
- satire
- class
Keywords
- thrillers
- audiobooks
- narration
- Best Offer Wins
- The Sunshine Man
- Girl Dinner
- Marisa Kashino
- Emma Stonex
- Olivie E. Blake
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Best Offer Wins, The Sunshine Man, Girl Dinner
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