by G.M. Malliet ; read by Davina Porter ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2013
This is a classic story of murder at a country house—but with the twist that most of the suspects are crime writers. It’s full of clichés but deliberately self-mocking. This enjoyable cozy is set in Scotland, making Davina Porter the perfect choice to portray the British characters. It’s a pity, however, that some of her American voices sound surprisingly English. In one instance, the character only begins to sound American halfway through. It’s worth a listen, though, just for the short extract from one of the hotel employees’ own attempts at crime writing: a murder mystery set in prehistoric times. It’s in complete contrast to the successful murder/chick-lit novel, DYING FOR A LATTE, that is much discussed and loathed throughout. C.A.T. 2014 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: March 5, 2013
Duration: 8 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: Dreamscape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Sue Grafton ; read by Judy Kaye ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 13, 2004
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Dick Francis ; read by Simon Prebble ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 1998
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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