Is Ricky Smith lucky, or what? First he escapes a deadly Las Vegas hotel fire; then he proceeds to strip neighboring casinos of their cash by winning every game in the house. Next he beats the world's greatest poker player. Once home in Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery. Former Atlantic City cop Tony Valentine is hired by the casinos to find out if Smith is truly lucky . . . or what? Reader Paul Boehmer is well suited to this Southern setting. His Carolina accent not only sounds authentic, but he seems to capture the feelings of the people in his tempo and cadences. Only his efforts to portray the Cuban villains strike a sour note. Nonetheless, Boehmer is a good fit for an entertaining story.
Pub Date: March 1, 2005
Duration: 11 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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