Narrator Neil Dickson delivers Victorian sensibilities with quiet assurance. David Morrell's conclusion to his 1850s trilogy features ingenious real-life opium-eater Thomas De Quincey and his partner in sleuthing, daughter Emily. The two are traveling by train from London to the Lake District, when a grisly murder, the first ever on this newfangled conveyance, threatens to sway an already dubious public against rail travel. Dickson provides both principal and secondary characters with unique personalities that reflect the buttoned-up moral scruples of the period. He delivers rich details, descriptions, and plummy accents when called for, and he is completely believable in imparting Morrell's informative background on the tragic occurrence that led the real De Quincey to opium addiction. To get the most out of them, listen to these three engaging mysteries in order.
Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2016
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781478935186
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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