It is 1897 in New York City, where the 14- month-old daughter of a Spanish embassy official has been kidnapped. No complaint can be made, however, because of the explosive nature of our relations with Spain, so Dr. Lazlo Kreizler, familiar to readers of Carr’s first novel, The Alienist, investigates with his team of oddly assorted friends. Foremost among these is the narrator, Stevie Taggert, whose colorful language and acquaintances pepper the narrative. George Guidall reads Stevie’s rough street talk with the same ease he shows with the elegant probing of Dr. Kreizler. He even manages startling cameo performances of Teddy Roosevelt and Clarence Darrow. Most impressive, however, is that Guidall finesses Carr’s vast background detail to pique suspense rather than weaken it. Carr and Guidall have teamed to produce a gripping thriller rich with historical and human interest.
Pub Date: 2003
Duration: 26 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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:
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:
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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