In 1997 the distinguished British mystery writer Ruth Rendell (aka Barbara Vine) was created a life peer and made Baroness Rendell of Babergh. Perhaps that influenced this quirky novel. In it, one Lord Nanther tells us of his three preoccupations--reformation of the House of Lords, his beloved wife's futile attempts to have a baby, and research on a book about his great-grandfather, the first Lord Nanther. A respected expert on hemophilia and physician to the royal family, this unlovable forebear may have murdered his fiancée before marrying his sister. Robert Powell is nicely cast as the present Lord N. He possesses an attractive, aristocratic sound, which he uses expressively. His detachment could pass as British stiff upper lip, though it deprives him of the warmth that the author has given her hero. Otherwise, this is a satisfying rendition of a complex and brainy tale.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 15 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
John Sanford is back with another psychological thriller in his Prey series. Surgeon, psychopath and serial killer Bekker is on the loose again after the easiest jailbreak in recent memory. Ken Howard's reading moves along with all the brooding energy a reader could want from a suspense book. His narration is deep, clear and well-suited to the gravelly voices of retired detective Lucas Davenport and the other cops. While Howard manages good dialects and shifts in character, his female voices leave a lot to be desired. For the most part, the abridgment gleefully throws logic and characterization overboard in favor of thrills, but the basic flavor of many characters is still fairly well maintained.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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