The question of whether the thirteenth Kate Shugak novel is successful depends on how you look at it. One could say that most of its clues are red herrings. On the other hand, one could consider the ending to be a satisfying surprise. One could also say that many of the characters seem to be needlessly foul-mouthed and obsessed with sex. On the other hand, such is often the case in "realistic" fiction. Overall, as the intrepid Shugak seeks to identify the murderer of a child molester, the Alaskan landscape of the series entertains, but the suspense of the plot seems misdirected. Marguerite Gavin leaves the emotion to the story, an approach that seems, at best, routine. D.R.W.
(c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 10 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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