When a big, handsome, ill-mannered stranger appears inexplicably in her kitchen, New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is tossed into a Christmas adventure neither she nor the listener will likely forget. Lorelei King narrates the story without giving much nuance to Plum’s character. She pulls out the stops, however, with the supporting characters: Stephanie’s born-to-be-wild grandmother; her niece who wants to be a pony; her cop boyfriend, Joe Morelli; a midget con man named Briggs; and the mysterious “Diesel,” who may be an alien, a superhero, or the Ghost of Christmas Present. While pursuing a bond-skipping toy maker, Stephanie has her car and her Christmas tree blown up by an octogenarian supervillain, is chased by a horde of angry elves, and must suffer the holiday guilt provided by her mother.
Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2002
Duration: 3 hrs
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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