Debut author Jane Harper’s fine prose and narrator Stephen Shanahan’s expert delivery combine for a transcendent Australian noir experience. Against the backdrop of a devastating two-year drought, federal agent Aaron Falk returns to his hometown for the funeral of his childhood friend, Luke Hadler. Luke has apparently killed his family and then himself, but Falk’s own investigation starts to unravel the murder-suicide theory. From the opening sentence of this compelling mystery, Shanahan’s accent and speech patterns immerse listeners in the Australian countryside. He also consistently sprinkles in little touches—a stifled yawn, a burp after a swig of beer, a nasally voice for a man with a broken nose—that breathe vivid life into the story and characters.
Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2017
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781250117632
Publisher: Macmillan 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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