Ian McEwan uses the classic spy novel plot to examine the career of the lovely and brilliant Serena Frome. Narrator Juliet Stevenson's crisp, cool tone matches the author's descriptions of Serena's evolution in the murky world of espionage. McEwan's exploration of the existential angst of living a shadow life, necessary for spies and their targets, is engaging and ultimately heartbreaking. Serena's assignment, to infiltrate the literary circle of her subject, Tom Healy, gives readers insight into both writers and the nature of the writing life. Stevenson portrays Serena with subtle emotion and deliberate pacing, allowing the events of her life to elicit the listener's responses.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2012
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781464049521
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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