Devotees of Barbara Taylor Bradford will be overjoyed with her new dynasty, the Deravenals. When patriarch Richard perishes in a suspicious hotel fire, it falls to 17-year-old Edward and his cousin to avenge the death and regain control of the family business from their Lancashire relatives. That side of the family is ruled by an insane old man and his treacherous French wife, Margot. Listeners are back in the BTB bosom as the author mixes this family feud with sexual liaisons and ruthless subplots. Narrator Ric Jerrom manages to use enough voices to identify who is speaking, where, and when. He is adroit in depicting the men and especially convincing as the women, particularly the wicked Margot.
Pub Date: Dec. 26, 2006
Duration: 17 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 1427200424
Publisher: Audio Renaissance
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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