Retired Edinburgh Inspector John Rebus is back in the detecting game, and, thanks to narrator James Macpherson, he sounds as brilliant and curmudgeonly as ever. This time he helps a former subordinate learn who is shooting famous politicians and equally famous crooks. Macpherson has performed many of the Rebus pantheon and knows his actors—growly Rebus, crisp Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke, snooty political bosses, and a host of other Scottish high- and low-life characters. He has a way with pacing as well; conversations move with realistic rhythm, barroom sections have the temper of single-malt whiskey, and action sequences are rat-a-tat-tat. You may need to listen intently for the first half hour to understand the Scottish accents. Stick with it. You’ll be amply rewarded.
Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2016
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781478905127
Publisher: Hachette 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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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