In these days of COVID-19, listening to a novel about a potential pandemic that originates in Asia may make fiction just a little too real. Nonetheless, narrator Rebecca Lowman succeeds in voicing the many American and Vietnamese characters in this suspense novel. She is particularly effective at portraying Alexis, who is visiting Vietnam with her new boyfriend, who wants to pay his respects to family members who fought there. When Austin disappears, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Listeners may find it challenging to follow the "confidential interviews" interspersed throughout the story. And descriptions of rats and their habits may be disturbing. For the less squeamish, this audiobook provides an intense plot and an illuminating story of what war leaves behind.
Pub Date: March 17, 2020
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593169407
Publisher: Random House 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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