Kristin Atherton shows off her vocal versatility throughout the second installment of the adventures of Lady Augusta Colebrook and her twin, Julia. Both are avid amateur detectives who hide behind the facade of being "old maids." Together, they seek justice for women who are mistreated by their husbands, brothers, or fathers, including Lady Hester, who has been brutalized and institutionalized by her younger brother. A second plot involves clearing Hester's older brother, Lord Evan, of a murder conviction 20 years earlier. Atherton adopts a clipped no-nonsense tone. British upper-crust accents often suggest the feelings of superiority of some characters, while working-class London accents characterize Bow Street runners, thieves, and bounty hunters. Throughout, Atherton draws listeners into this complex story of loyalty and deception.
Pub Date: May 6, 2025
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593907689
Publisher: Penguin Audio
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
Sir Derek Jacobi and Joe Jameson's stellar performances add sparkle and verisimilitude to this delightful locked-room mystery. The first adult book by Montgomery, an award-winning children's book author, is set in a Cornish manor house during the 1910 passing of Halley's Comet. Jacobi sets the semiserious tone with resonant action updates and intense performances of yesteryear news reports. Jameson remarkably personifies everyone. He broadens his vowels to inhabit our jailbird hero; pinches his voice into an octogenarian lady; puffs into an officious butler; and lightens into a young maid. The plot, involving death by crossbow, is crazy fun. The upstairs/downstairs subplot is moving. The writing is clever and witty. Jameson and Jacobi deliver a captivating performance that celebrates the tale's mix of drama and farce.
Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780063458741
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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