A complex high-society murder mystery in the Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn series is read archly by Mary Peiffer. There's a myriad of characters here. Some have good Bostonian accents, and the Countess Ouspenska growls in an unidentifiable Eastern European manner. But for the most part, the endless cast and trivial walk-on parts are confusing to the listener. (These extra characters must have larger parts elsewhere in the series). Mary Peiffer seems to think she is more amusing than the book, and this causes a barrier to be erected between the word and the ear. It's even difficult to empathize with the wonderful widow of George Protherie--pierced through the heart with a spear.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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