Mysteries abound in this series set in medieval Japan. Kaze, an honorable "freelance" samurai, becomes embroiled in the hidden life of a merchant he rescues while seeking the kidnapped daughter of his former master. Marosz's narration is emotionless and disconnected from the text, which he reads flawlessly. Initially disturbing, this distanced narration eventually melds with the characters of this tale, all of whom hide who they are, what they feel, and what they seek, behind an emotionless mask. Japanese words and phrases flow easily from Marosz's tongue, each translated into English. The listener wonders distractedly throughout the performance if the written text also translates these phrases into English or if this was done for the aural rendition.
Pub Date: 1999
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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