Narrator Gemma Whelan introduces Reverend Jacqueline Brooks and her 14-year-old daughter, Flo, who move from the city to a church in rural England. Narrator Richard Armitage convincingly portrays a mysterious figure who stays in the background. In this horror story, people burn twig dolls to remember the martyrs who were burned at the stake 500 years ago during Queen Mary's purge of Protestants. Listeners will shudder at meeting the sinister villagers and parishioners. Whelan captures gutsy, inquisitive Reverend Brooks's thoughts, particularly when she receives threatening notes, which add to the mystery's forbidding atmosphere. Equally well rendered is the spirited Flo. Descriptions are riveting and credible as Brooks uncovers many shocking truths. Despite the grim setting, the relationship between mother and daughter and the satisfying conclusion offer a worthwhile listen.
Pub Date: 2021
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593292754
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Part of the joy of Tom Clancy novels is one's belief that the stories could come true. His latest entry stretches that some as we find international terrorists building a nuclear bomb which is used to set Americans and Russians against one another. Jay Robertson reads with a newscaster's voice, crisp and clear with a light touch of drama. However, he does little to help listeners identify Clancy's huge cast of characters, and dialects seem difficult for him as he occasionally slips in and out of character. Nonetheless, patient listeners are rewarded as the plot unfolds. This will be a welcome addition to any library justifying the price of the multi-cassettte volumes.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Grisham's story of the murder of two disparate Supreme Court Justices has a scope that could make abridgment difficult. Fortunately, all the plot threads are in place here: the sexual trysts, the murder investigation, and the political maneuverings which extend from the White House to the cloistered halls of the Supreme Court itself. A story this big has to be fun, and it is. While the reading seems tight at first, actor Anthony Heald soon warms to the material. Or perhaps the breakneck pace of the story takes over. The tapes are crisp and clear, and occasional music accentuates the suspense--adding to the fun.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 5 hrs
DD ISBN: 0553750933
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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