An engaging story with a shocking ending and narration that beautifully conveys suspense and tension.
British actress Nicola Walker's measured pace and restrained tone pair perfectly with protagonist DI Martha Allen. In 1990, baby Bella Carpenter disappeared from a London hotel room while her parents slept. Allen had her suspicions about the parents, but she couldn't prove anything. After days of searching and a public plea, a young woman, Nell Beatty, walks into the police station claiming to have found the baby in a park. Her story doesn't quite add up, but Allen's superior halts the investigation. Thirty years later, Nell has been murdered, and Allen is now a superintendent; doubts about the Carpenter case have never left her.
An engaging story with a shocking ending and narration that beautifully conveys suspense and tension.Pub Date: March 17, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 26 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668121436
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: June 9, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
This addition to the series is Cleeves at her best.
Narrator Jack Holden draws listeners into this complex murder investigation led by Detective Matthew Venn and his team. Seventeen-year-old Charlotte (Lottie) and Hannah have come to Devon, England to celebrate the completion of their school year, staying at Hannah’s family vacation home. When Lottie is found dead in the swimming pool, the search begins for Hannah, who seems to have disappeared. Hannah’s father, a prominent politician, raises the profile of the investigation. Listeners follow along as Venn and his team chase down leads, uncover dark past events, explore current relationships, and dive into the black hole of social media. Holden masterfully delivers the atmospheric settings, complicated personalities, and compelling story.
This addition to the series is Cleeves at her best.Pub Date: yesterday
Duration: 10 hrs, 33 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250452078
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2026
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.
Narrator Susan Ericksen transports the listener to 2060s New York City, where Lt. Eve Dallas is investigating the murder of scientist Larry Chu, who was found brutally beaten to death. The case takes Dallas to the secretive, power-hungry company that Chu worked for. As the longtime narrator of this long-running series, Ericksen has established voices for the main characters, and she’s just as skillful performing secondary characters. She brings a haughty arrogance to her portrayal of Chu’s employer. Dallas is aided in her investigation by her Irish husband, Roarke, for whom Ericksen adds a hint of Irish lilt.
Ericksen’s performance makes for a lively listening experience.Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026
Duration: 13 hrs, 46 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250446671
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Sept. 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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