Unconventional sleuth Lily Bard discovers a body in Shakespeare, Arkansas, where she’s a young, reclusive cleaning lady with a penchant for martial arts. Two mysteries surround this audacious detective: her dark past and the baffling death of a local landlord. Charlaine Harris imbues these characters with her signature quirkiness and vigor. Julia Gibson warmly performs Lily's youthful, energetic banter, which reflects her strong, capable personality. Gibson cleverly manipulates the pacing, becoming more animated as the action picks up. She deftly segues to the quavering voice of elderly characters, brawny males, and Arkansan natives with distinctive accents. Suspenseful hints at Lily's horrific background place her directly in the spotlight as the key suspect in the local crime, prompting her to strike out on her own to identify the real killer.
Pub Date: Aug. 28, 2009
Duration: 6 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781440760167
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: 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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