Gary Ferguson is a poet naturalist trying to share a passion with the general reader. This recording doesn’t do very well by him. Yuri Rasovsky’s January “Yurika!” column arrived just in time to explain why. Rasovsky discusses the importance of giving the author/narrator of a book a distinctive character. Rob McQuay seems doggedly determined not to, in spite of Ferguson’s lyrical style. When someone other than the author speaks, McQuay displays ample ability to voice a character, but he renders the author himself with perfunctory blandness. Occasional misplaced stresses suggest that he isn’t even paying much attention to what the words mean. Ferguson deserves a more enthusiastic advocate behind the microphone.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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