This is Keating’s fourth venture into the working life of Birchester Detective Superintendent Harriet Martens. Dubbed "The Hard Detective" for her no-nonsense dealings with crime, Harriet has a new boss, Chief Constable Newcomen. He sends her off to solve a thirty-year-old murder using 21st-century technology--DNA testing. Harriet believes "Mr. Newbroom" has it in for her, even if she is his top detective. Clearly, she’s in a no-win situation. If she solves the cold case, her boss will claim the credit. If she fails, her reputation will suffer. Narrator Sheila Mitchell’s voice swoops and soars in Keating’s latest police procedural. As Harriet’s energetic imagination puts the pieces of the puzzle together, Mitchell’s pace and tone keep things lively. Her enthusiastic performance makes this a worthwhile listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780792786740
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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