Narrator Linda Emond gives a fine performance of this mystery, but the story itself is so weak it's a wonder she doesn't give an exasperated sigh in the listener's ear. The main plot, involving murder, stretches from North Carolina to Afghanistan in clunky sections that come together in the end through unbelievable coincidence. Emond is simply better than her material. She portrays forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan as a confident woman with authority and a sense of humor. Emond smoothly delivers the series star even when trapped in bad dialogue and subplots. Emond also does well with pacing and accents in her portrayals of secondary characters. However, her skill isn't enough to save this book.
Pub Date: Aug. 27, 2013
Duration: 11 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781442361829
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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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