Narrator Grover Gardner is simply wonderful as Inspector Montalbano embarks on another complicated criminal investigation. Gardner’s voice contains that mysterious element we think of as “star quality,” which makes listeners sit up and take notice. As the aging Sicilian police inspector deals with a series of burglaries of wealthy homes, it becomes clear that the break-ins are being committed by a group of professional thieves. As if dealing with the burglaries, murder, suicide, eccentric sidekicks, and his fiery, unpredictable lover weren’t enough, Montalbano finds himself falling in love with the most recent burglary victim, drop-dead gorgeous Angelica Cosulich. While Gardner’s use of an Italian accent sometimes stretches credibility, his overall performance enhances Stephen Sartarelli’s excellent translation of this cleverly plotted mystery.
Pub Date: June 24, 2014
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781482994599
Publisher: Blackstone 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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