Edward Petherbridge is renowned for his portrayals of Lord Peter Wimsey. This story opens in 1951 as Lord Peter—now married to mystery writer Harriet Vane—and his manservant/friend, Bunter, recount the case that launched Lord Peter’s investigative career. In 1921, he retrieved the “king stone,” the pivotal jewel in the collection of the Attenbury emeralds. After the flashback storytelling, the current heir to the Attenbury title appears unexpectedly, wanting Peter’s help to determine the true provenance of the “king stone.” Over the past 30 years, murder, theft, and personal tragedy have befallen those connected to the emerald. Jill Paton Walsh does a terrific job with Dorothy L. Sayers’s posh P.I., and Petherbridge’s intimate style, offering charming throwaway comments, is genteel and subtle. Delightful listening.
Pub Date: March 15, 2011
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781609982119
Publisher: AudioGo
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In the latest Kinsey Millhone mystery, Kinsey is hired by an aged, wealthy man to retrieve his daughter from prison, where she has served time for embezzlement. Kinsey quickly figures out that the girl isn’t an embezzler but instead has done time for her money-laundering boss. All heck breaks loose. Judy Kaye has a warm, rich voice that seems just right for Grafton’s P.I. Her delivery mirrors the smart-aleck tenor of much of Kinsey’s dialogue. Strangely though, when Kaye is interpreting a male character (and there are many), she raises her voice to a higher register, so that many of the men sound like adolescents with changing voices, or worse, like chipmunks. It may be Kaye’s subtle social comment, though. For once the listener adapts, this odd gender reversal seems natural.
Pub Date: July 13, 2004
Duration: 10 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Benedict Juliard, forced from steeplechase racing, becomes increasingly involved in politics and protecting his father's life. Prebble's relaxed but masterful command of characters allows an easy flow during conversations, as well as the sudden transformations from narrative to action scenes. His clear, precise speech; polished style of delivery; and sense of timing give a steady consistency and excellence to his reading. Prebble carries the main characters with ease, but he seems to delight in performing the secondary characters, who feature a great variety of accents to match their roles. Another polished performance by a master of reading.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1998
Duration: 7 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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