Far more surreal than a thriller, Sallis’s “novel about spies,” as the subtitle asserts, is delivered in gravelly tones by Johnny Heller, who handles the introspection, accents, and occasional bouts of violence with panache. A sculptor summoned back into undercover work after years of retirement abruptly leaves his girlfriend and traverses the U.S., falling into beds and near fatal traps, all calmly recounted by Heller. Even the small-town police chief exhibits a bent for philosophizing in a slightly incongruous yet captivating Southern accent. Dodging danger and brooding excessively, the spying artist concludes, “Everyday we reconstruct ourselves out of the salvage of our yesterdays.” Deconstructive perhaps—but the absurd is played straight and sharp by Heller.
Pub Date: Nov. 15, 2013
Duration: 4 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: Blackstone 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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