Narrator Kevin Kenerly evokes the strong atmosphere of this mystery, set in 1930s New Orleans. He captures the swagger of African-American P.I. William Fletcher through dialect and portrays the smoky sensuality of Fletcher's client, Zelda, with a deep, almost masculine, tone. The story would benefit from showing more and telling less. Furthermore, some of Kenerly's accents are inconsistent on occasion, and the words of a dying man late in the novel give no indication of suffering even though the character is bleeding to death. But Kenerly keeps the listener hooked on the plot and atmosphere, so fans of the genre should find this debut enjoyable.
Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2015
Duration: 5 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781504656337
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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