The TOP 5 Audio Dramas to Stream Right Now
By #1 Bestselling Author Matt Miksa
Like many folks, I first got into podcasts in 2014 with the release of the groundbreaking true crime mystery Serial. After the obligatory true crime binge (anyone remember Up and Vanished?), I quickly became fully addicted to fiction podcasts, with original stories, multiple actors, and the occasional spooky sound effect.
But we’ve moved so far beyond those early days…
In 2021, audio drama producers, writers, and performers really took the medium to an entirely new level. I’m talking about cinematic sound design, sky-high production quality, and stellar voice acting by Academy Award-winning talent. In particular, a few big-budget projects from Audible, with some huge names behind them, really gripped me this year.
Are they audiobooks, podcasts, or something completely new? Take a look at my picks for the top 5 audio dramas to stream right now.
#5
THE GUILTY
By James Patterson
Written by thriller master James Patterson, this audio drama stars Emmy Award-winner John Lithgow and Bryce Dallas Howard. Lithgow plays Osmond Box, an eccentric writer/director, who is preparing to open his newest, highly-anticipated Broadway play called The Guilty. The catch is: the production is a total secret. No one knows the plot, the setting, or even the actors. Opening night, the show’s audience is locked inside with no phones. What mortal terror will befall the unsuspecting spectators?
#4
THE SANDMAN
By Neil Gaiman
This dark fantasy is produced with such rich and textured sound design, all you have to do is close your eyes to be transported to another world entirely. The talented cast is spearheaded by James McAvoy (X-Men, His Dark Materials) as Lord Morpheus, the immortal king of dreams who is imprisoned on Earth by a notorious cult. When Morpheus escapes after decades in confinement, he must complete a realm-spanning quest to rebuild his deteriorated dominion. Based on the DC graphic novel, this audio drama is devilishly thrilling. The score alone, composed by Academy Award winner James Hannigan, is reason enough to give it a listen.
#3
THE COLDEST CASE
By James Patterson, Aaron Tracy, and Ryan Silbert
I love this one, and not just because it takes place in my home city of Chicago. Homicide detective Billy Harney’s new partner, Kate, goes undercover as member of a dangerous drug ring. Then, (surprise!) things go bad. People start getting murdered and the gang’s black book disappears. Billy and Kate become tangled in a web of corrupt politicians, powerful billionaires, and dangerous drug lords as the dark conspiracy unfolds.
#2
KILLING HOLLYWOOD: THE COTTON CLUB MURDER
By Daniel Thomsen and Jeff Baker
This original fiction podcast starring Academy Award nominee Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers), Emmy-nominee Rainn Wilson (The Office), and Golden Globe winner Christian Slater (Heathers), is based on a fascinating true crime story. Lanie Jacobs, a drug queen-pin, leaves Miami for L.A., where she teams up with a struggling theater producer to invest in a new star-studded movie: The Cotton Club. Steeped in Hollywood politics, gossip, and intrigue, the plot gets pretty wild and murderous (as the name promises). It’s hard to believe anything like it really happened.
#1
ARMORED
By Marc Greaney
I had been waiting patiently for months for this one to be released. Greaney, the New York Times bestselling author of the Gray Man series, really threw himself into this mega project. The cast is enormous, and their performances are top-notch. Josh Duffy, an injured Army vet, is offered an opportunity to return to the action as a military contractor. His assignment is to defend an armored motorcade as it heads into Mexico’s cartel country. Duffy’s team soon realizes the drug lords aren’t the only danger they face, and when things go sideways, they must fight for their lives. Strap in for a high-octane adrenaline rush!
My picks are all exclusively available on Audible. If you don’t have a membership yet, click my affiliate link below to get free 30-day trial and stream thousands of Audible Originals, bestselling audiobooks, and podcasts.
Okay, time to pop in those ear buds (that’s the best way to have a truly immersive experience) and get listening!
MATT MIKSA
SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to my newsletter to get updates on future blog articles like this.
SEE MORE OF MATT’S PICKS
Check out these great Christmas gifts for book lovers this holiday season, 2022.