On the eve of WWI, Amelia Peabody and family gird for an archaeological expedition to Palestine to unearth the legendary Ark of the Covenant. This refreshing prequel is set in 1910, before the family entanglements featured in Peters's recent books. Barbara Rosenblat's unsurpassed performance scintillates once again. The many characters' distinctive voices profoundly contrast in tonal range and quality while retaining a sensitive awareness of age, sex, culture, and nationality. Rosenblat never ceases to amaze as she creates brand-new inflections to enhance each new personality, such as that of The Reverend Plato. Middle Eastern religious tension in this prewar period, murder, and mayhem surround the troupe as they strive to find son Ramses, lost while working on a dig in Jerusalem. Flawless expressive nuances embellish the familiar and so lovely voices of Amelia and husband Emerson as Rosenblat's charming AUDIOFILE Golden Voice continues to gleam.
Pub Date: 2010
Duration: 11 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780061988097
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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