Rose, the octogenarian narrator of Australian writer Bruce Nash's American debut, captures listeners' hearts, tickles listeners' funny bones, and challenges listeners' mystery-solving skills. Narrator Abbe Holmes tells the indomitable Rose's story, projecting her determination to find the right words and make sense of the strange happenings at her care home. Holmes uses a vocal tremor that conjures a friendly elderly woman who is eager to be heard. Listeners hear her frustration as she works to be taken seriously. From the unintentional humor that meanders through her sentences to her often-used "whats-its-name" word substitutions, Rose invites listeners' empathy.
Pub Date: July 1, 2025
Duration: 7 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797196510
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
As the clues accumulate, McLaren maintains the momentum.
Todd McLaren narrates with a steady, controlled delivery that supports this police procedural full of mounting tension. Hugo, a former federal profiler who now runs a bookshop in Paris, is pulled back into investigative work when a threatening message targets an executive at a luxury confectionery company. McLaren shapes Hugo’s perspective with measured phrasing that reflects his analytical thinking and professional habits. He gives secondary characters distinct vocal patterns through shifts in tempo and emphasis, allowing conversations to unfold at a quick pace while keeping listeners engaged, and he smoothly transitions between interviews, discoveries, and reflection.
As the clues accumulate, McLaren maintains the momentum.Pub Date: March 31, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318551444
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2026
A cozy crime mystery ideal for a fireside listen on a dark night with a hot toddy for company.
Emilia Fox rises to the challenge of creating a dozen or more voices to tell this intriguing murder mystery. Freya Lockwood and her aunt Carole are antique hunters working in league with the FBI, tracking down the source of three forged paintings recently shipped to the United States. A Scottish castle, concealed identities, and a couple of bodies make for a good yarn—not one to be taken too seriously, but reasonably compelling. Fox is on more stable vocal ground with Freya, Carole, and assorted Scots than she is with Phil, the FBI agent, but she keeps a firm grip on the plot and moves along at a good pace.
A cozy crime mystery ideal for a fireside listen on a dark night with a hot toddy for company.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 2 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668103067
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: March 25, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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