In early-eighteenth-century China, the emperor strives to elevate his shaky power in the remote southern province by commanding an eclipse of the sun. David Shih narrates this unique mystery with smooth pronunciation of the Chinese names and places. He adds a cultured tone in recounting the quest of Li Du, the exiled imperial librarian who is convinced that a visiting Jesuit astronomer was murdered. Shih employs a resonant pompousness for Li Du's storytelling companion, Hamza, and portrays the pretentious magistrate with haughty condescension. But Shih's straightforward delivery of most of the dialogue causes confusion about which character is speaking, especially between Li Du and Lady Chen, the magistrate's powerful consort. Otherwise, Shin's mannered pace is well suited to this rather formal story.
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2015
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781427264558
Publisher: Macmillan 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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