Ian Rankin's narration of this novel's insightful introduction helps set the scene for listeners being transported into a world of spies. Fear and mistrust are pervasive in an alternative Europe at the end of the 1980s. Narrator Julian Rhind-Tutt helps to bring the wide cast of characters alive and build the tension as the plot develops. His voicings of the key protagonists are strong and packed full of individuality. A standout character is Martin Hepton, who discovers that covert action, not scientific error, has caused the disappearance of a European satellite. Rhind-Tutt also creates a wonderful adversary in his portrayal of Harry, the female assassin. The result is a thrilling and fun presentation of the novel Ian Rankin at one time wanted to disown!
Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549156267
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
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