In an audiobook narration, personalities need to come through in the vocalization of the characters. That fails to happen in Andi Arndt’s reading of Alafair Burke’s newest Ellie Hatcher mystery. Arndt’s portrayal misses Hatcher’s sharp edges, wit, and inner strength. As Hatcher and her partner, J.J. Rogan, race the clock to keep a serial murderer in jail, Hatcher sounds prim and forlorn. Furthermore, there isn’t much difference between the dialogue of Hatcher and that of DA Carrie Blank. This is a novel of suspense, but the pacing is lethargic. Sadly, the energy and intensity of Burke’s novel just aren’t present in this narration.
Pub Date: June 10, 2014
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780062280664
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Benet Archdale and housemaid Carol Stratford are two young, single parents who have no reason to know each other. They become tangled in a nightmarish spiral of kidnap, fraud, family violence and death. Ruth Rendell creates psychological suspense in thrillers that are compulsively readable or, in this case, listenable. British actress Imelda Staunton's reading is perfectly paced, and the characters are well defined. You'll have a hard time turning it off.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emerson and Peabody are at it again! Uncovering antiquities takes a back-seat as the romantic archaeologists track down the master criminal who is stealing Egypt's ancient treasures. With the help of their precocious son, Ramses, the intrepid pair unravel this mystery in crowded bazaars, desert camps and the heart of the Black Pyramid. Barbara Rosenblat's reading fully measures up to the tale. She is a master of timing and nuance. Rosenblat's power for character interpretation has grown with each book in this amusing series. This is the best one yet.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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