Narrator James Langton finds unique voices and accents for the many characters in this story of two children murdered in Brighton, England, in 1951. The children are uniquely portrayed: Annie is clever and writes dark stories inspired by fairy tales with her best friend, Mark. Langton successfully differentiates the voices of the principal characters, Max Mephisto, a great magician, and Edgar Stephens, the detective in charge of the case, Without resorting to caricature, Langton does a wonderful job with minor characters as well, creating easily identifiable voices and edgy tones that capture the fear of the townsfolk as events escalate. Overall, Langton reads this suspenseful story with a touch of humor and plenty of sincerity.
Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2016
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504712408
Publisher: Blackstone 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
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