The audio presentation of this sprawling historical novel would have been more successful if it had followed the print version and offered two distinct narrative voices. The story follows Ethan Saunders, a former spy for General Washington, in the period after the Revolutionary War, when he is suspected of treason. Narrator Christopher Lane gives personalities to a wide cast of characters. The difficulty that challenges even Lane's skills is that the story is told in alternating chapters by two protagonists, one male, one female. As Lane narrates, the male character, Saunders, is immediately recognizable. However, it’s not as apparent when the female lead, Joan Maycott, has taken over the story. In spite of Lane's excellent performance, this is one instance when two narrators would have increased the listener's enjoyment of an intriguing look at American history.
Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2008
Duration: 19 hrs
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
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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