In his first historical fiction, James Lee Burke explores one man’s experiences in the American Civil War. Willie Burke doesn’t believe in slavery. He teaches a young black woman to read and write. He has a strong affection for a woman who secretly assists the Underground Railroad. Yet, even with his conflicted beliefs, Willie enlists in the Confederate Army. He’s from Louisiana, and he’s a patriot. Burke has written what may be his finest novel to date. The powerful opening scene immediately holds the listener in thrall. An extraordinary performance by Ed Sala brings freshness to every scene and believability to every character. Sala gives Burke’s elegant, poetic descriptions the care they deserve. Based on Burke’s ancestors, this fascinating story is fiction at its finest.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2003
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
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
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