Based on a true-crime story from mid-nineteenth century New York, this novel has some fascinating characters: Oakley Hall, the corrupt Tweed Ring district attorney who prosecutes Emma Cunningham for the savage murder of her landlord and possible fiancé, Dr. Burdell (the victim and the accused both pretty nasty pieces of work), and the crusading defense lawyer who gets Emma off (but is never quite sure she is innocent). The plotting is tight and compelling, and there are wonderful period details. But the writing is wooden, and Adam Grupper’s narration, while not bad, is sometime sloppy (“jewlerry” for “jewelry”), his dialogue unconvincing. Not quite a whodunit nor yet a courtroom thriller, this is still an absorbing picture of life and death in old New York.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2010
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780061969256
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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