John le Carré, as author and narrator of this stand-alone spy thriller, serves up a wholly engaging audio experience. Nat, a 47-year-old career agent recently returned to Britain from a long stint abroad, finds himself struggling with the possibility of his imminent redundancy. While the plot draws its tension from the unsettling alliances in our current political environment, its drama rests on the human foibles of spies. True, le Carré's deep, avuncular voice seems a mismatch for the younger Nat, and his voicing of women is a bit of a stretch. But his facility with accents and deep understanding of the personalities he has created add to the audiobook experience. It's a privilege to listen to this master author deliver his work.
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2019
Duration: 9 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593151914
Publisher: Penguin 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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