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DEATH IN A BLACKOUT

BILLIE HARKNESS, BOOK 1

The first in a WWII mystery series, narrated with energy by Elizabeth Sastre, features plucky British Women's Police Constable (WPC) Wilhelmina "Billie" Harkness. When a timely letter from a distant cousin, an effervescently voiced Lydia, arrives after a tragic accident, Billie seizes the opportunity for a fresh start in a new city. She soon joins the recently established WPC to investigate the suspicious death of a young art student. Sastre energizes Billie with verve and determination as she doggedly pursues answers. Alongside her reluctant partner, the earnest Special Constable Upton, she engages with an Irish priest, an irate councilor, and other well-characterized residents. Disparate threads surrounding the case come together gradually, presenting listeners with a few twists and more than a few red herrings.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022

Duration: 9 hrs, 15 mins

DD ISBN: 9781705051801

Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026

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    THE MUMMY CASE

    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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      THE STAR FROM CALCUTTA

      From the Perveen Mistry series , Vol. 5

      Fans will be pleased with this colorful and fun addition to a popular series.

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      Sneha Mathan, who has narrated several books in the Perveen Mistry detective series, sets a deliberate pace in the female lawyer’s latest adventure in 1920s Bombay. This time, Perveen acquires a film studio as a client, only to find a murdered guest at a movie screening. Mathan, who has a soothing, midrange voice, honors the author’s formal language with exquisite diction and an unrushed reading. While some may wish to increase the playback speed a bit, the pace gives listeners time to follow the complex plot. A few of the female characters sound confusingly similar, but that’s a quibble. In general, the international cast and disparate personalities are vivid.

      Fans will be pleased with this colorful and fun addition to a popular series.

      Pub Date: March 3, 2026

      Duration: 14 hrs

      DD ISBN: 9798899746116

      Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

      Review Posted Online: April 21, 2026

      Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026

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