Simon Vance echoes the weight of Inspector Kurt Wallander’s world-weariness, disappointments, and regrets in his performance of this novella. Wallander is looking to buy a house in the country when he finds a body in the garden and a crime to solve. Vance gives side characters, such as Wallander’s live-in adult daughter, Linda, bright, upbeat voices, delineating their personalities while adding depth to Wallander’s feelings of disconnection and isolation as he explores the long and far-reaching effects of a violent act. The production concludes with an afterword in which Mankell reflects on his writing career. A serious, surprising mystery for fans of the series as well as those new to Mankell’s work.
Pub Date: Aug. 12, 2014
Duration: 3 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780804192682
Publisher: Random House 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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