Could we talk about accents? The principal characters here are Venetians living in Venice. David Colacci's choice to play them all as if they were Italians speaking English in New Jersey obliterates variations of class or region that give texture to a story and that varying accents might otherwise convey. Here when Police Commisar Brunetti speaks with a contessa, a gypsy from Hungary, a German-born carabinieri, or his boss with the rough Palermo accent, Colacci has nowhere to go with it. Instead they all sound like an American imitation of a single Italian accent. This flaw distances us from characters the author intends us to identify with, robs them of familiarity and the story of gravitas. Nor does the story really hit its marks. Very seriously disappointing.
Pub Date: May 13, 2008
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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