Rosalyn Landor returns as Bess Crawford, a WWI nurse and sleuth who adeptly solves mysteries that come her way in the British Isles. In A BITTER TRUTH, Bess, by chance, encounters a woman in distress in London and then accompanies her to her estate in Sussex, where dire consequences and murder ensue. Landor's clear enunciation denotes Bess's upbringing, common sense, and compassion. Landor also creates recognizable variation between all the women’s voices. In particular, bold and authoritative matriarchs' voices are contrasted with those of relatives who speak with deference. However, male characters all converse in the same gruff tone. Bess's suspenseful leave in England ends with a harrowing quest as she returns to war-ravaged France.
Pub Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780062125644
Publisher: Harper Audio
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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