A unique blend of wit, intrigue, and interpersonal tension.
Marni Penning delivers this whodunit at an assured pace that keeps the mystery moving through a layered cast of suspects. When dynamic writing duo Fred and Thea Morgan-Lane travel to Italy for a conference, a series of deaths raises many questions—especially since they mirror the murders the couple described in their first novel. Penning gives Fred and Thea distinct vocal identities, which helps keep listeners engaged throughout. She amplifies the strain on Fred and Thea's creative and personal relationships as the threat increases. Was the poisoned drink that kills another guest intended for Thea? Planted by Fred? Penning builds on shifting alliances and mounting suspicions, expertly guiding listeners through the investigation.
A unique blend of wit, intrigue, and interpersonal tension.Pub Date: July 21, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 58 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063398801
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 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
C.J. Box writes about life in wild Wyoming, short stories of people living a rugged life by choice or by circumstance. David Chandler narrates in a rough-edged whiskey voice that suggests summer heat, bitter winters, and windswept prairies, guiding the listener through 10 adventures of men like Fish and Game Officer Joe Pickett. Chandler brings the listener into this strange world where, more often than not, men have to create their own justice. His performance of the economical stories, some rarely seen, is perfect. The tale of the frozen body of a Native American basketball player turned speed freak, her arm reaching through the ice of a lake in a final jump shot, is one of the most fascinating in the collection.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470392796
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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