Suspense is the hallmark of the new Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge mystery. A trio of murders of Great War survivors in rural Sussex is investigated by Rutledge, who continues to be haunted by horrific WWI experiences and the imaginary voice of his ethereal comrade, Hamish. Simon Prebble's husky performance infuses the ideal level of Rutledge melancholy while underscoring the period detail of the bygone era. He is especially skilled at vocalizing the throaty timbre of the more mature characters while softening women's tones without changing pitch. He performs accents expertly, especially that of the Scottish Hamish. However, Prebble's vocal volume sometimes drops sharply as characters speak softly or whisper, and some words are lost. Soon Rutledge is plagued by more deaths, few clues, and pressures that threaten his job, his reputation, and his life.
Pub Date: 2011
Duration: 11 hrs
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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