Listeners are transported to 1843 London through Elizabeth Jasicki's narration. Apothecary Lucinda Peterson hires agent Jonathan Thorne to investigate a theft after a former beau patents a formula she invented. The listener is also introduced to a slew of secondary characters, including Lucinda's siblings and customers, as well as Thorne's daughter and co-workers. Jasicki excels at expressing the characters' range of emotions. However, many of the male characters have a similar tone or timbre and at times are difficult to identify. As many chapters or sections are introduced by conversations without context, it's often confusing until contextual clues are provided.
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593825846
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Crick’s dynamic performance will keep listeners entertained.
Narrator Beverley A. Crick transports listeners to England after Napolean’s exile from France. The Earl of Heathbrook was held captive in France during Napolean's reign. When he returns to England, he has to fight to gain guardianship of his younger brothers. In order to make himself seem more responsible, the Earl persuades Giselle Bernard, a Frenchwoman he knows, to pretend to be his fiancée. Crick skillfully flows between Giselle’s French accent and Heathbrook’s English one. When Heathbrook is visited by a friend from Scotland, Crick is equally adept at voicing his accent. Giselle has a no-nonsense quality, which Crick expresses well, along with the youthfulness of Heathbrook’s younger brothers.
Crick’s dynamic performance will keep listeners entertained.Pub Date: April 28, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 40 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899742712
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: May 12, 2026
Knowelden’s performance is a perfect match for the nonstop banter, hilarity, and capers.
Lightly magical Victorian-era England is delightfully brought to life by narrator Elizabeth Knowelden. Best friends turned antiques experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have kept up a charade of professional loathing. After an ill-fated hug in boarding school led to vicious rumors and speculation, Amelia and Caleb vowed to never show more than the utmost decorum and courtesy toward each other. Both aspire to keep their hard-won positions at Oxford University pursuing thaumaturgical objects, even if it means feigning hatred while secretly maintaining their dear friendship. Despite their best efforts, Amelia continues to find herself competing, and squabbling, with Caleb. After yet another spectacle between the two over a magical object leads to public scrutiny, they are dispatched by their superiors to the far reaches of Cumbria.
Knowelden’s performance is a perfect match for the nonstop banter, hilarity, and capers.Pub Date: April 21, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 29 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217282531
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: May 26, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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