Otto Penzler, who reads three of these stories himself, makes the professional actors look great by comparison, and they deserve it. Don Leslie does a beautiful gravelly job with Scott Wolvern's "The Copper Kings," and you haven't lived until you've heard Barbara Rosenblat start to hiccup as she plays a hysterical and guilty Southern housewife trying to lie her way out of a tight corner in "Maniac Loose," by Michael Malone. Robert B. Parker's "Harlem Nocturne" is damaged by the actor's repeated mispronunciation of a key character's name (Digiacomo). (How hard would it have been to check?) But for mystery fans, the strengths of this entertaining volume will far outweigh the disappointments.
Pub Date: 2002
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN:
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN:
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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