Smith's latest thriller, the second to feature FBI Special Agent Ana Gray, again displays her strength in serving up multidimensional characters. Gray's behavior--impulsive, quick-tempered, frequently unprofessional--is compelling. She rises well above the typical genre character. Kathe Mazur recognizes that these messy personalities are what make this series stand out from countless others; she does quite a nice job dramatizing Ana and her flaws. Mazur credibly reconciles the gentler aspects of Ana's character with her edgier, less stable side, and also provides well-drawn vocal characterizations for the supporting cast. J.P.M.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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