Narrator Gabrielle de Cuir is a virtuoso whose sultry voice is the perfect vehicle for Volker's mystery. It's the sensuous story of a pleasure trip that quickly devolves into a nightmare as bodies, illicit affairs, and international intrigue pile up in one of the world's most romantic cities, Venice. With a special talent for dialogue, de Cuir's natural-sounding pacing and intonation, along with her ear for tone and intensity, capture the personalities of the speakers and bring authenticity to the dialogue. The author writes well, except for her many florid descriptions. Happily, de Cuir's ability to slip into fluent-sounding Italian and to deliver convincing Italian and British accents enhances this intriguing mix of mystery, romance, and travelogue.
Pub Date: 2018
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Christine Evelyn Volker
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
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