Broiler was an excellent read. I listened along with the audio and the narrator was great. I appreciated the insight of the "haves and have nots" of the meat industry. The cultural differences and expectations were well-explored.

"There was beauty in the process, the way a living, breathing chicken came clucking out of one of those modular bins and then—less than five minutes later—was reduced to drumsticks and thighs, ready-to-be cooked-and-eaten parts of the original whole."

Broiler by Eli cranor

Narrated by Victoria Villarreal

Thank you Netgalley and RB media for the wonderful Audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.


Gabriela Menchaca and Edwin Saucedo are hardworking, undocumented employees at the Detmer Foods chicken plant in Springdale, Arkansas. The conditions of the workers is very poor, with no payment for extra work hours they are asked to put in, not even getting a bathroom break. Imagine working for 10 hours, imagine having to wear adult diapers because you are not allowed to have bathroom breaks. In the same plant, there's a manager Luke Jackson who is as brutal as they come. When Edwin is fired by luke to set an example, Edwin tries to take a revenge. Edwin’s impulsive action sets in motion a devastating chain of events that illuminates the deeply entrenched power dynamics between those who revel at the top and those who toil at the bottom.

This book is well written and narration is really good. If you ask me what I liked about the book, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint what was it that made it so special but this book had me hooked from the start. Maybe it was the narration or the writing style, or maybe the plot even.

I'm gonna grab Eli cranor's previously published book for sure.

Broiler by Eli Cantor is a very well-written noir thriller. The story begins in a chicken processing plant in Arkansas and I found this part of the novel particularly interesting and compelling. Most of the employees are undocumented and the conditions they work under are horrendous. The story revolves around two couples, one Mexican, Gabriela and Edwin, who both work on the line at the factory. The other is white, Luke, a manager at the factory and his wife who recently gave birth and suffers from postpartum depression.

The rest of the story involves the kidnapping of Luke’s son by Edwin after Luke had fired him unjustly. I was less invested in this part of the story partly because none of the four characters are particularly likeable but also because it felt, at least to me, a bit jarring, forcing me to have to readjust my suspension of disbelief after the realistic descriptions of the conditions in the factory. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy it. There was plenty of tension to keep my attention and I would definitely read more by this writer in the future. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Victoria Villarreal who does an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley and RBmedia for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I received an eARC from NetGalley and RB Media. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook , narrated, very well, by Victoria Villarreal.

I am a big fan of the author. This is the third novel I have read of his and my favorite. Chicken plants are prominent in Arkansas so this was the perfect setting for this thriller. The author always makes his characters morally gray and this was no exception. I don’t think anyone was upstanding 100% except maybe for the Tía.

If I was involved in something like this my first move would be calling the police, but if they did that we wouldn’t have this story. This book was a little bittersweet. The characters weren’t really lovable, just a sad lot, but it didn’t deter me from loving the novel.

Great characters and interesting story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook

Thanks to the RBMedia and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Eli Cranor’s “Broiler” takes readers / listeners on a gripping journey through the ruthless underworld of an Arkansas chicken processing plant. Narrated by Victoria Villarreal, this audiobook immerses us in the lives of two desperate families—one white, one Mexican American—whose paths intersect in a place where survival comes at a steep cost.

Gabriela Menchaca and Edwin Saucedo, undocumented workers at the Detmer Foods chicken plant, endure brutal conditions for meager pay. When plant manager Luke Jackson fires Edwin, setting an example for other workers, Edwin seeks revenge. His impulsive action triggers a devastating chain of events, exposing power dynamics and the bleak underside of the American Dream.

Eli Cranor’s storytelling prowess shines in this noir thriller. The characters’ struggles resonate, and the tension builds relentlessly. Villarreal’s narration captures the raw emotion, making each scene vivid. “Broiler” is a thought-provoking exploration of exploitation, resilience, and the price of survival.

 For audiobook enthusiasts who crave gritty, socially relevant narratives, “Broiler” delivers. Prepare to be hooked from the first chapter.

Sometimes the darkest truths are hidden in plain sight. 🎧🔍

This one was just ok for me. I didn't much care for any of the characters and that made it hard to connect to the story.

Illegal immigrants being overworked and underpaid in horrific working conditions. Its horrific don't get me wrong but when you are in a country illegally.... You are going to be used this way and they both had the chance to go home and be with family but chose to be slave labored instead. I couldn't stand Edwin. UGH

Luke who runs the plant, that allows this to happen... DIRT BAG! His wife? Didn't like her either. That makes it hard to enjoy a book for me but the plot kept me listening and I actually thought the ending was good.

3 stars

This was my first book written by Eli Cranor. I am glad that I read it. Broiler is very relevant in our current environment. While the plot is fictional there are many realistic details. I will look for books he has written in the future. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have access.

I was hoping this would be more than it was but that’s on me. It was a decent thriller and listen but I didn’t love it. I did love the ending. The narrator was just ok but she’s not one I’ll search out for more books she narrates.

I was truly saddened and disgusted by the treatment of the workers in the chicken plant and I’m sure that really happens in real life but it shouldn’t. I’m sure one point if this book was to show how brown people are treated compared to white and it did a great job of that.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the audiobook I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Gripping, tense, moving, and hard to put down! Eli Cranor first came on my radar with Don't Know Tough and he continues to write books that are not only riveting but full of tension, vivid descriptions, intense scenes, intriguing characters, and fantastic plots.

In Broiler, Cranor has two couples: Gabriela (Gabby) Menchaca and Edwin Saucedo and Mimi Jackson, and Luke Jackson. Gabby and Edwin are workers at Luke's Detmer Foods chicken plant. They are worked hard, they don't get bathroom breaks (can you imagine having to wear adult diapers to work?), and never seen an ounce of overtime pay even though they work long hours. Luke Jackson is the plants manager. Luke and his wife Mimi live in a beautiful home and have a six-month-old son named Tucker.

When Luke fires Edwin, Edwin vows revenge, and all their lives are irrevocably changed. I felt for Gabby having to wear diapers to work and choosing not to drink water during her shift to try to avoid the shame of literally peeing in her pants. I felt for the workers and the horrible conditions in which they worked. The unfairness of life was on display in Broiler. I felt for Mimi, who feels she has no control in her life, has postpartum depression, and is married to Luke.

I loved how this book did not have a lot of characters. The plot was raw with all of its nerves exposed. This book is filled with bad decisions, poor judgement, consequences, raw emotion, and pain. This book looks at power, relationships, friendship, class, inhumanity, the dream of having a better life, and ambition.

I listened to the audiobook and felt the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing this book to life.

Wonderfully written, gripping, riveting and hard to put down! Eli Cranor has delivered another book that packs a hard punch! If you have not read his books yet, make a point to grab a copy!

This was so well done. Wow. I mean, most of the characters did something horrible along the way, and at least one of them was pretty damn crazy… but you could kind of see what drove him off the rails. What I loved about the book was how in the midst of a thriller, the statement on working America and the class system that still exists was woven through it all. No, Edwin shouldn’t have done what he did, but he and Gabriela did work under a boss with horrible ethics at the workplace and they were drowning in their American dream. I most liked the character of Gabriela, though eventually I came to appreciate Mimi as well. The twists and turns along the way had me worried about Tuck and his well being, worried who would die and when, all of that. And the ending pulled together really nicely.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for this review.

"Broiler" by Eli Cranor is a thriller, but it is much more, too. It is about the difference between undocumented immigrants and white people who run the jobs that hire but also oppress those workers.

Gabriella and Edwin are a couple, and both are undocumented immigrants who work at a chicken broiler factory. Luke is the boss at this factory. He has a wife named Mimi and a son named Tuck. One day, Edwin is 2 minutes late for work, and Luke fires him to impress the inspectors. Edwin loses his mind and decides to kidnap the boss's baby and hold him for ransom.

Ok, so I didn't like this book at all. I'll tell you why. None of the characters are likable. Nope, not even the baby. I couldn't relate to any of them.

The setting of the chicken broiler factory is horrifying. The workers do one task over and over, ripping apart the chickens for hours. It is gross, and it is mind-numbing work. The immigrant workers are not even allowed to use the bathroom, and they do not get any break, though they are supposed to. I'm hesitant to eat chicken again.

The narrator, Victoria Villarreal, read this story like a textbook. It could have been so much better.

The end of the book was exciting. Yes, this is when you get the most thriller part. I don't want to spoil it, though. You'll just have to read it if you want to know. Other reviewers liked this book much more than I did, so read some of those, too.

Characters - 3/5
Writing - 3/5
Plot - 3/5
Pacing - 3/5
Unputdownability - 3/5
Enjoyment - 1/5
Narration - 2/5
Cover - 2/5
Overall - 20/8 = 2 4/8 rounded up to 3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, RB Media, and Eli Cranor for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Broiler by Eli Cranor and narrated by Victoria Villarreal is a story of two couples, one with a newborn, one who has recently endured a miscarriage.

Luke Jackson is a ruthless boss, he is fighting to get the promotion of his dreams and nothing, nothing can be allowed to get in his way. No drama, no disruption, nothing. Not even an employee turning up late. Again. More excuses., Edwin Suacedo is fired, no ifs or buts, fired easily because of his status, disposable. Luke continues on to his meeting with the inspectors. Mimi, Lukes wife, is a stay-at-home mom, she saves the day by bringing him the right briefcase just in time, but a crack is about to rupture...

Gabi and Edwin are Mexican-American, both working long shifts at the broiler factory that luke runs. Long shifts which don't even allow for toilet breaks, making it necessary to wear an adult diaper throughout the shift. The couple are undocumented immigrants, so they cannot complain about the unpaid overtime that has accumulated over 7 long years, 20k or is it 50k? Either way, it is a huge sum unpaid

Deceit, cheating, doubt, deviousness, ruthlessness. A stunning read that had me engrossed from start to finish. Victoria Villarreal is a great talent and the perfect choice for this audiobook

I will certainly be looking out for more by Eli Cranor. Dynamic, immersive, relevant to current narratives, a worthy listen

Thank you to Netgalley, RBmedia | Recorded Books, the author Eli Cranor and narrator Victoria Villareal for this outstanding ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I listened to the audio version which was very well read by Victoria Villareal. She had good definition between characters voices. Despite the often difficult subject matter she didn't become melodramatic and had a good even tone that was pleasant to listen to. I'd definitely listen to other books she narrates.

This book is definitely an exercise in trying to come to terms with what some members of society have to do to simply put food on the table every day.

The story involves two couples - Edwin Saucedo & Gabriela (Gabby) Menchaca and Luke & Amelia (Mimi) Jackson. Edwin and Gabby are undocumented employees working at a chicken processing plant in Arkansas. Luke is their manager and Mimi his stay at home wife who cares for their 6 month old son, Tucker (Tuck).

As the possibility of promotion looms Luke fires Edwin on a flimsy pretext in order to demonstrate his ability to command to those above him. For Edwin it is the final straw and he conceives a plan that will get both him and Gabby out from under the bosses and give them a decent life.

The actual plan itself is quite ridiculous and badly thought out but Gabby stands by her man whilst having the intelligence to make the best of a bad situation.

The book isn't just about how appallingly undocumented workers are treated - and I've read enough non fiction not to be surprised by the utterly inhuman conditions in the plant. It's also about the women's stories - how they are dominated by men who use force as their main driver. It's a good feminist novel as well as one that punctures the already damaged American dream. If anyone still believes that you can get on if you work hard then I'd advise them to read this book.

The characters of the two couples are polarised for sure but they make for a good story. Luke has absolutely no redeeming features and whilst the women come across as soft and biddable, they certainly show their mettle when required.

A good story with believable characters. The end was somewhat fantastical but I enjoyed it on the whole. I would definitely recommend it.

Thankyou to Netgalley and RB Media for the audio advance review copy.

This book starts off slow, and I was initially confused about its direction, other than it being a devastatingly sad start. However, it picked up with a twist in the middle that I did not see coming.

We follow two couples from different social classes, each with their struggles, trying to justify their actions as they chase their future and navigate everyday life. While some characters are well-developed, others are left unexplored, making their decisions hard to understand.

The author, Eli Cranor, discusses heavy topics like grief, social class, undocumented immigration, feminism, and ethical issues stemming from these subjects, without making the book hard to read. This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy literary fiction, but not so much to those looking for a mystery/thriller.

As for the narrator, there is no critique what so ever. She did an amazing job with all the characters, bringing the book to life. I highly recommend the audiobook version as it adds an extra umphh! to the already great book.

This was all about pain and revenge, a couple is mistreated for years at their job but due to citizenship issues they can’t really find a new one. Though they aren’t the only ones not treated correctly the boss’ wife who looks to be living the high life is also going through tough times.

A lot transpires throughout this story though I enjoyed it and the ending.

Broiler by Eli Cranor. Published by Soho Crime. High Five and Thank you to NetGally, and RBmedia for a chance to listen to this audio book. I loved Cranor’s first book, Don’t know Tough. Broiler is about two families, working in a chicken plant in Arkansas. I enjoy Cranor’s writing style, and his desire to write what he knows. Like, Don’t Know Tough, Cranor writes about what he knows so well. Families. Immigration. The American Dream so far away. This was a very enjoyable listen. Every book Cranor establishes himself as a writer who can write about the American south like no other.

Wow! This compelling novel takes us inside the lives of two couples in very different financial circumstances. Edwin and Gabriella work 10-hour days at the Detmer Foods chicken plant in Arkansas without bathroom breaks or overtime pay. Luke is the plant manager hoping to earn a promotion to Corporate while his wife, Mimi, struggles with anxiety for their 6-month-old son. Edwin and Gabriella struggle to pay the rent on their trailer while Luke and Mimi rattle around in their mostly unfurnished McMansion. The story weaves in and out of their lives and their losses with increasing despair - and mounting desperation. What are they willing to risk to get what they want, and how far are they willing to go? I couldn't stop listening!
My thanks to the author, publishers, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook for review purposes. It is on the shelves now, so order a copy of this book (or well-narrated audiobook) today!

Well read audiobook of one of the best new crime books I’ve read in a while. Cranor writes a story where everyone makes the wrong decisions, but for understandable reasons.

“For every American dream there is a corresponding nightmare.”

Overall rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.

Broiler brings the drama while exploring a class (and racial) divide between management at a chicken processing plant and its undocumented line workers, both groups facing their own struggles in the pursuit of their dreams. While I fear the portrayal of the working conditions is probably disturbingly accurate, the conflict here is emotionally complicated. I didn’t feel either of the couples that were at odds were really the villains of the situation. It made for an interesting read as I wasn’t sure who I was really rooting for.

I “read” this book via audio, and while, admittedly, I sometimes find audiobooks much harder to take in, that was not the case with this one. I never lost the plot and the characters always fully captured my attention. I enjoyed getting a pretty good look into each of the four main characters and their motivations.

I would like to thank NetGalley, RBmedia, and the author for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.