In an understated voice, George Guidall captures all the drama of this melancholy love story. He moves deftly between voices in a novel with multiple characters, cuing the listener discreetly. The plot lends itself well to audio as the narration flashes back to provide background to the mystery that unfolds. Occasionally, Guidall's portrayal of female voices sounds more weak than feminine, but even those lapses seem suited to the tragedy that develops. After all, the central characters endure a tremendous shock in the aftermath of the alleged pact that destroys their lives, leaving them forever altered. All in all, this is an addictive audiobook.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2006
Duration: 17 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
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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