As a woman's body is found in a shallow grave at the Old Rectory, Terry Wale's lugubrious reading is appropriate for the background. Soon, however, we hear that many of these characters have a sense of humor; satire and puns and clever dialogue run through every scene. But Terry Wale is still lugubrious. Although he ascribes a lighter tone to the plot, he gives a Shakespearean overtone to the scenario, carrying it over into the speeches. We are always thrown back to the mournful voice, which causes us to miss the levity of the author's hand.
Pub Date: 2000
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books /Soundings
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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