This Peter Ashton story involving espionage and international politics begins with the murder of a woman mistakenly identified as Ashton's wife. As he begins to investigate the killing, things get more and more complicated, as a plot involving high-tech computer hacking, Russians, Indians, the IRA, and a Latvian woman unfolds. Christopher Kay's voices are excellent and accomplished, given the number of foreign accents. His female voices are exceptionally good. For listeners unfamiliar with the series, the audio may be difficult to follow because of the intricacies of the plot, numerous characters, and frequent shifts in setting. A pace that presents no problem for those versed in the series will be too hurried for others, necessitating frequent rewinding and relistening. Obviously there is more to come as several issues are left unresolved.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 14 hrs
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books
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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