Simon Vance narrates this Scandinavian crime story, creating plausible and likable characters through his use of accents. Maria Adler seeks revenge for an event that happened years before. As she embarks on a series of murders, it’s up to Inspector Van Veeteren and his team to investigate the deaths and to track down Adler. The victims are obviously connected but how? Vance’s use of nonspecific British regional accents to differentiate the characters works well. He keeps the slowly evolving plot moving, successfully pacing each step of the investigation, however mundane. While there’s an overall sense of melancholy throughout the book, there’s also a liberal dash of humor, which Vance allows to shine through the sometimes-bleak story line.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2011
Duration: 7 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781611742787
Publisher: HighBridge 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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