London was a different place in 1855, as David Morrell's engaging novel shows. Featuring opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, this thriller captivates the listener as a result of Matthew Wolfe's adept presentation of its dialogue--which could have overwhelmed a lesser narrator. The story focuses on a murderer who targets the highest levels of British society and whose signature leads investigators to people who have previously attempted to assassinate Queen Victoria. Although the evidence indicates that the Queen may be the killer's target once again, the novel goes far deeper, and is both entertaining and brutally dark. The book requires a performer like Wolfe, who recognizes the need to create different voices and varied deliveries, and does so in a memorable yet understated way.
Pub Date: March 24, 2015
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478926962
Publisher: Hachette 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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