When Scott Brick plunges into Mystic River, he does so with artistry and grace. This is a haunting, suspenseful, psychological thriller that calls for a multiplicity of reading talents--and Brick displays them all. One of three 11-year-olds playing together is abducted and molested by two pedophiles, released after four days, but is never the same person he was before. Fast-forward twenty-five years, and the daughter of one of the other boys is savagely murdered. The slaying brings all three into a complex, dark, emotional drama, which teaches that the past can never be totally forgotten. Brick brings it all together in an almost perfect reading. He switches emotions in an instant. Whether a character is pleading for his life or drowning in alcohol, his performance flows smoothly--right down to the end. Mystic River is the kind of book that allows the performer to shine, and Brick does.
Pub Date: Jan. 30, 2001
Duration: 15 hrs
Publisher: Harper 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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