Sometimes a reader can take a good piece of writing, like QUARRY, and suck the life out of it with a bland portrayal of the lead character. This is one of those cases. QUARRY is moody story that captures both the ambiance of rural California and the slick impersonality of San Francisco in a gritty detective yarn with a real undertone of malevolence. Sadly, Nick Sullivan plays the hero, The Nameless Detective, so blandly it's hard to believe Nameless has a tough bone in his body, though he's thrown into physical danger on a regular basis. Interestingly, Sullivan breathes life into the minor characters, having an easier time with accents, mannerisms, and tics in these supporting roles. If this production were a full-cast production with committed actors making strong choices, it would be memorable listen.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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